Royal Victoria looks at use of iodine-125 seeds

Royal Victoria Infirmary consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon Mr Adam Critchley, consultant radiologist Dr George Petrides, consultant radiologist and breast screening programme director Dr Nidhi Sibal, advanced practitioner radiographers Merilyn Cockburn and Jenni Scott and clinical scientist and nuclear medicine physicist Dr Richard Peace.

Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne has been running a series of workshops on a cutting-edge procedure, supported by Toshiba Medical Systems.  The technique involves the use of iodine-125 seeds for the localisation of breast tumours.

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has introduced the first routine UK service to localise tumours with iodine-125 seeds as an alternative to wires.  The seeds act as a beacon in the tumour, with a gamma probe guiding the surgeon to the precise location.  This has resulted in an improved patient pathway as the seed insertion can take place seven to 14 days prior to surgery.  There is improved cosmesis and almost all surgical excisions are carried out as day cases.

Advanced practitioner radiographer Merilyn Cockburn said: “Apart from the advantages of being able to insert the seeds at least a week before surgery, other benefits include a more straightforward procedure, with research showing that the technique gives greater accuracy in locating the tumour.”  The trust uses a Toshiba Aplio 500 ultrasound scanner for seed placement and a Toshiba Viamo portable ultrasound machine is used on the course for practical demonstrations.

See the full report on page 7 of the May 2016 issue of RAD Magazine.