Magseed localisation of non-palpable breast lesions: experience from a single centre

AIM

To prospectively analyse patients undergoing magnetic seed (Magseed) localisation (MSL) to evaluate the outcome, and to retrospectively compare re-excision rates for MSL with previous wire-guided localisation (WGL) to assess the hypothesis that the introduction of MSL may lead to a lower re-excision rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MSL commenced at University Hospital Crosshouse in December 2017. No other changes were made to radiological or surgical practice during this time. Data were collected prospectively on all patients undergoing MSL between December 2017 and December 2019, in a single breast unit. Data were gathered retrospectively on patients who had undergone localised breast procedures between January 2016 and December 2019 for comparison of re-excision rates.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifty-five patients underwent MSL surgery between December 2017 and December 2019. Of those, 98% (n=250) patients underwent successful MSL at the first attempt. The Magseed was identified intraoperatively in 100% patients and surgical excision was performed. The re-excision rate reduced from 18.9% in 2016/2017, to 11.6% in 2018/2019 (p=0.098).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Magseed localisation has proved to be a safe and effective way of localising breast lesions, with the advantage of high accuracy. The reduction in re-excision rates at University Hospital Crosshouse with the introduction of Magseed® localisation is a potential benefit, which requires further study.

A case of adenocarcinoma of the lung associated with a neck mass and hypercalcemia

The case of hypercalcemia secondary to metastasis to a benign parathyroid adenoma is reported. The patient had documented lung adenocarcinoma with multiple bone metastases and a mass in the lower anterior neck for at least 5 months before hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia resistant to treatment developed. Autopsy revealed widespread metastatic disease including metastatic tumor invading a benign parathyroid adenoma. The analysis of four cases of metastatic cancer spread to a benign parathyroid adenoma reported previously revealed that two of them also had hypercalcemia during a late stage of the disease. There are data that the incidence of metastases to parathyroid gland might be as high as 11.9%, and the incidence of parathyroid adenomas in patients with cancer is significantly higher than in controls. The metastases to benign parathyroid adenomas might be another mechanism of hypercalcemia of malignancy.