SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Surgery have developed a device that can help surgeons locate breast tissue marker clips after a failed specimen radiogram during lumpectomy.
BACKGROUND
During breast cancer screening, if cancer is suspected, a sample of breast tissue is taken by an image-guided needle biopsy and the suspicious region is tagged with a tissue marker clip. If the tissue is determined to be cancerous or atypical, surgery is subsequently performed and the clip is used by the surgeon as a marker to guide the removal of the appropriate breast tissue. Once the tissue has been removed, a specimen radiogram is performed on the extracted tissue to detect the clip and confirm that the correct tissue has been removed.
In 3% of breast surgeries however, the surgeon fails to detect the clip during the specimen radiogram. Currently, there is no way to detect a clip after a failed specimen radiogram. Instead, the surgeon is relegated to removing additional breast tissue in the area in hopes of finding the clip and the tagged tissue. If the clip still cannot be found, the patient must be re-scheduled for a follow up screening to detect the clip and a second surgery to remove it and the tagged tissue. In order to reduce the risk and cost of surgery, as well as improve patient outcomes, there is a need for a device that can detect a clip for subsequent tissue removal after a failed specimen radiogram during surgery.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers have developed a device that can be used to localize a tissue marker clip and the tissue around it during breast surgery after a failed specimen radiogram. The device is compatible with current surgical techniques and can be used to detect metal and reflector clips. The device requires very little additional training to use and can be used in the operating room during surgery. The device has already been conceptualized in detail, and the procedure has been performed with cruder but available surgical instrumentation. Adoption of this device into practice would eliminate the need to remove unnecessary excess breast tissue, reduce the need for follow-up breast imaging and surgeries and improve patient outcomes due to failed specimen radiograms.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
- Clip detection after a failed specimen radiogram
- Breast surgery
- Precancerous and cancerous
- Tumor removal
- Guided process to facilitate appropriate tissue removal for final tissue radiogram
ADVANTAGES
- Usable with current techniques and both metal and reflector clips
- Deployable in the operating room (OR)
- Guided process
- Reduces need for follow up surgeries
- Allows for less tissue to be removed
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE
Device has been conceptualized in detail, and the procedure has been performed with cruder but available surgical instrumentation. Patent Pending.