Determine the location of breast tumor surgery with Scout Radar

Breast Tumor Surgery with Scout Radar

Breast tumor surgery technology is constantly evolving to increase precision, reduce damage to normal tissue, and speed patient recovery. Scout Radar (Non-wire localization), a method of wirelessly locating breast tumors, enables surgeons to perform precise and efficient breast tumor removal.

What is Scout Radar?

Scout Radar is a small, safe radar system that can pinpoint non-palpable breast tumors. The procedure begins with a radiologist implanting a small reflector (about the size of a grain of rice) into or near the tumor using a guide needle, guided by an ultrasound or mammogram machine. The reflector can safely remain in the patient's body for days or weeks before surgery.

In the operating room, the surgeon uses a handpiece that sends a radar signal that hits a reflector, allowing him to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor in real time and perform precise surgery to remove the tumor along with the reflector.

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International acceptance and use

Internationally, particularly in the United States and Europe, wireless localization technologies, including Scout Radar, have gained widespread acceptance and are poised to become the new standard of care, replacing traditional wire localization.

• Certification: The Scout Radar system has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since prior to 2017.

• Widespread use: It is used in hundreds of hospitals across the United States and Europe. According to the manufacturer (Merit Medical), hundreds of thousands of women worldwide have undergone surgery using this technology. Non-wire locazation is now preferred over wire localization in other countries.

• Supporting research data: Many studies and clinical data from abroad have shown that using Scout Radar has a very high success rate in locating and removing tumors (more than 99%), and importantly, it significantly reduces the re-excision rate compared to using guide wires due to its higher accuracy.

Usage in Thailand

In Thailand, Scout Radar technology has been introduced to leading private hospitals and large medical schools, especially in Bangkok, where there is a breast center that places importance on introducing new treatment innovations. Although it is not as widespread as in other countries, it is considered a modern option for patients.

• Current status: It is considered an advanced technology that increases the precision of surgery.

• Providing services: Generally, it is a large private hospital with well-equipped equipment and specially trained personnel.

• Claim Rights: As with any advanced technology, health insurance claims are subject to policy terms and the insurer's discretion on a case-by-case basis.

  
  

Indications for use of Scout Radar

Scout Radar is generally used in the following situations:

• Very small tumors: When the tumor is small and deep enough to be palpated from the outside.

• Suspicious Calcifications: Used to identify the location of calcifications that biopsy results indicate may be cancerous or are at risk.

• Surgery after chemotherapy: In patients whose tumors have shrunk significantly after receiving the drug, the surgeon can locate them and remove them completely.

• Breast Conserving Surgery: Suitable for patients who want to have a limited surgical procedure and preserve as much of their breasts as possible.

  
  

Alternative methods for tumor location

The traditional technique that remains standard in many hospitals is the use of a wire guide (WGL). The procedure involves the radiologist inserting a small wire into the tumor site with a needle on the same day as surgery. One end of the wire is hooked onto the tumor while the other end protrudes from the breast skin to guide the surgeon to operate along the wire.

Pros and Cons of Scout Radar

Advantages	Disadvantages
High accuracy: 360-degree positioning capability, allowing surgeons to plan incisions and cuts accurately, reducing the chance of unnecessary removal of healthy tissue.	High cost: This technology is more expensive than traditional guidewire methods.
Patient comfort: The echo can be implanted several days in advance and does not need to be done on the day of surgery, reducing steps and anxiety on the day of surgery.	Availability of medical facilities: Still limited in leading private hospitals in Thailand, equipment and trained personnel are required.
No exposed wire portion: reduces discomfort, pain, and risk of infection or wire movement.
Increased surgical flexibility: The surgeon has the freedom to choose the incision location for the best cosmetic results, without being limited by the direction of the wire.
Reduce the chance of repeat surgery: According to international studies, higher accuracy allows for complete removal of the tumor in one visit, reducing the rate of repeat surgery.

Conclusion: Scout Radar is an internationally accepted technology with proven efficacy and convenience compared to traditional breast tumor surgery. In Thailand, this technology is already available in several leading private hospitals and large medical schools.