Localization of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions

August 9, 2017 updated by: Linnea Langhans, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

A Randomized Study of Localization of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions - RSL vs WGL

Each year the Danish mammography-screening programme identifies a large number of patients with small non-palpable breast cancers or precancerous lesions. The majority of these patients are suitable for breast conserving surgery (BCS). The object of BCS is to remove the suspicious lesion completely without removing excess healthy breast tissue. To obtain this accurate lesion localization is essential.

Until today the standard procedure in Denmark has been wire guided localization (WGL). Although the method has been utilized for a number of years it has several disadvantages. Often inaccurate lesion localization leads to incomplete lesion removal (positive margin) and subsequently reoperation. It can postpone the additional systemic treatment, offered after the operation. Other disadvantages are poor cosmetic outcome and inconvenient planning for the patient and the departments involved. The wire needs to be placed on the day of the operation, which decreases the flexibility of the procedure.

The purpose of this study is to test a new method named radioactive seed localization (RSL). The method uses a small titanium seed containing radioactive iodine. It will be placed in the centre of the lesion, and during the operation, the surgeon can locate it with a handheld gamma probe. The seed can be placed a few days in advance, which means a more flexible course of treatment. The method seems promising with regards to reoperation rates, but it needs further testing.

Hypothesis:

RSL is a more accurate method, for localization of nonpalpable breast lesions, than WGL. Using RSL obtains, to a great extent, adequate negative margins, resulting in a reduced number of re-operations.

The study will be performed as a randomised clinical trial, where the two methods will be compared to each other. The trial will be performed at the department of breast surgery at Rigshospitalet and include patients with nonpalpable breast lesions. Besides reoperation rates, duration of the surgical procedure and the amount of removed breast tissue will be compared.

Study Overview

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

410

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Østerbro
      • Copenhagen, Østerbro, Denmark, 2100
        • Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with nonpalpable breast lesions, carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma, where preoperative lesion localization is necessary.
  • All age groups, minimum 18 years

Exclusion criteria:

  • Patients with benign nonpalpable breast lesions.
  • Patients who are unable to comprehend the information.
  • Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have children < 3 years.
  • Patients who have lesions, which requires more than two wires or seeds for localization.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Radioactive seed localization (RSL)

Patients are randomised for preoperative lesion localization with either radioactive seed localization (RSL) or wire-guided localization (WGL).

In this arm 205 patients will have RSL performed. The radioactive seed is introduced through a gauge needle using standard ultrasound guidance. Once guided to the nonpalpable breast lesion, the seed is deployed into the breast tissue by advancing a stilette in the needle. The exact location is confirmed by mammography. The nonpalpable lesion is located during the operation with a handheld gamma probe, identical to the one used for the sentinel node procedure. The surgical specimen is orientated and examined at the Department of Radiology and Pathology in accordance with the existing guidelines of WGL.

Localization of nonpalpable breast lesions with Radioactive seed localization
Active Comparator: Wire-guided localization (WGL)

Patients are randomised for preoperative lesion localization with either radioactive seed localization (RSL) or wire-guided localization (WGL).

In this arm 205 patients will have WGL performed. Guided by ultrasound or mammography a flexible wire is introduced into the breast by the radiologist just before the operation. The tip of the wire must mark the nonpalpable lesion, and correct localization is verified by mammography. The surgeon uses the wire and mammography as a guide during the operation. The surgical specimen is orientated and examined at the Department of Radiology and Pathology in accordance with the existing guidelines of WGL.

Localization of nonpalpable breast lesions with Wire-guided localization

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Re-operation rate due to positive microscopic margins detected at the final pathological evaluation.
Time Frame: Re-operation within 3 months after the initial breast conserving surgery.
Re-operation within 3 months after the initial breast conserving surgery.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Amount of excised breast tissue in relation to tumour size.
Time Frame: 3 months.
3 months.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Duration of the surgical procedure.
Time Frame: 3 months.
3 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Niels Kroman, Professor, Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital), Department of Breast Surgery

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 14, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

July 17, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 11, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 9, 2017

Last Verified

September 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Yes

IPD Plan Description

Data will be presented in a international peer review article.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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