According to the University of Utah, more than 2.8 million women need cancer surgery every year in the United States.
A lumpectomy is breast conserving surgery, where surgeons remove only the tumor and some surrounding tissue.
Doctors perform most lumpectomies after wire localization, a technique where the radiologist “marks the spot” by inserting a wire into the breast the morning of surgery. That means the day can be grueling for the patient: first localization and then removal, plus coordinating multiple professional schedules. Not to mention, a wire sticking out of the affected breast.
The FDA recently approved the Savi Scout as an alternative to wire localization. It is a small, 1cm reflector that bounces light and electromagnetic waves that hit it. Surgeons find it with a hand-held device that emits a radar signal.
The surgeon uses a probe to help remove the tumor and to confirm that the reflector is safely outside the body.
SCCA/UW started using the Savi Scout earlier this year. Mine is Friday 23 June.
Originally approved for insertion up to seven days before surgery, the Savi Scout is now approved for insertion up to a month before surgery.
The American Society of Breast Surgeons awarded Cianna Medical the 2016 Scientific Impact Award for its presentation validating the utility of its FDA-approved breast localization and surgical guidance system.
Research
- Breast Lesion Localization Methods Market – Comparative Analysis, Field Force Analysis, Business Models, End User Preference Survey (Selection Criteria, Qualitative Analysis of Replacement Trend), Competitive Product Portfolio and Strategic Consolidation. April 2016.
- Evaluation of the SAVI SCOUT Surgical Guidance System for Localization and Excision of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions: A Feasibility Study. American Journal of Roentgenology, October 2016, Volume 207, Number 4.
One Reply to “Enter, Savi Scout”