SCOUT® Radar Reflector for Nonpalpable Breast Lesion Localization: Clinical Outcomes from a Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND

Preoperative localization of non-palpable breast lesions is critical for accurate resection and margin control in breast-conserving surgery. Traditional methods, such as wire or radioguided localization, have limitations in terms of logistics, patient comfort, and procedural flexibility. SCOUT® is a wireless, radar-based alternative that may improve surgical precision and workflow. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of the SCOUT® in the localization of non-palpable breast and axillary lesions, including detection success, margin status, reoperation rates, and device-related events.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, single-centre observational study including 427 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery after preoperative localization using the SCOUT® between January 2023 and May 2024 at a tertiary academic hospital. Variables included lesion type, location, neoadjuvant treatment, device detection, seed deactivation, MRI interference, margin status, and reoperation rate.

RESULTS

The mean age was 58 ± 12.7 years, with malignant pathology in 88.5% of cases. SCOUT® achieved a 100% detection rate in axillary localizations and 98.1% in breast lesions. Seed deactivation occurred in 1.2% of cases, all successfully managed intraoperatively. MRI artefacts were observed in 1.6% of patients, without diagnostic interference. Positive margins were reported in 8.3% of cases, representing an improvement compared with the institution's historic 12% rate, with 5.9% requiring reoperation. Carcinoma in situ showed the highest rate of positive margins, at 26%.

CONCLUSIONS

SCOUT® was associated with high detection rates, a low incidence of device-related events, and favourable margin outcomes, supporting its reliability for the localization of non-palpable breast lesions.