Localization technique | Advantages | Disadvantages | Margin clearance rate (%) |
Wire localization | - Familiarity, readily available in most centers
| - Placed same day, may delay operating room start
- May traverse breast
| 54 to 90[2-7] |
Radio-occult lesion localization | - No wire traversing breast; can be combined with SLNB
| - Requires same-day injection; may delay operating room start
| 66.7 to 87[7-10] |
Radioactive seed localization | - Can be placed days prior to surgery
| - Radiation safety concerns
- Lack of good depth perception of sensor
| 74 to 96[9-16] |
Infrared radar (eg, SaviScout) | - Can be placed days prior to surgery
- No radiation concerns
| - Cost
- May not produce a signal if >4.5 cm depth
| 88.9[17] |
Magnetic seed device (eg, MAGSEED) | - Can be placed days prior to surgery
- No radiation concerns
| - May not produce a signal if >4 cm depth
- Signal void artifact with MRI
| No data |
Radiofrequency identification tag | - Can be placed days prior to surgery
- No radiation concerns
| - Not yet available for use off trial
| 73[18] |
Hematoma/ultrasound-guided localization | - No preoperative localization required
| - Hematoma and/or clip must be ultrasonographically visible to surgeon
| 76 to 94.3[19-26] |