Breast cancer patients at the University Hospital of North Tees are benefiting from a new surgical technique using radioactive iodine seeds. The procedure helps surgeons locate small tumours that show no visible signs or lumps.
Previously, surgeons relied on a thin metal guide-wire inserted into the breast on the day of an operation. This could be an uncomfortable experience for patients already dealing with the stress of surgery.
Under the new method, a radiologist injects a tiny radioactive seed into the tumour up to two weeks before the operation. Surgeons then use specialist theatre equipment to detect the low-level radioactive signal, allowing for more precise tumour removal.
The project follows two and a half years of planning and staff training, which included testing accuracy by injecting seeds into chicken breasts. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is now the second trust in England to offer this localisation method.
The radioactive seeds are stored in a fire-proof safe and are returned to a licensed facility for disposal after being removed from the patient.
Archive : This story is based on reporting originally published by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust on 2020-02-18. The original source image has been and credited.