Combined Use of Savi Scout and Magtrace for Non-Palpable Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND

Non-palpable breast cancer management has become less invasive and more efficient, driven by advances in tumor localization and sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification. Savi Scout, using a radar-based localization system, can be implanted into the tumor before neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Magtrace, a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle for SLN detection, can be administered preoperatively. This study evaluated combining Savi Scout and Magtrace for breast-conserving surgery and SLN biopsy in non-palpable breast cancer.

METHODS

Patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery and SLN biopsy for non-palpable breast cancer using Savi Scout and Magtrace between December 2022 and June 2026 at HCA Healthcare London Bridge Hospital were retrospectively identified. Outcomes included successful tumor localization, SLN identification, intraoperative signal detection failure, margin status, re-excision rate and staining.

RESULTS

72 patients were identified (mean age 52 years, standard deviation ± 10), with a total of 78 breast lesions and 73 SLN biopsies. A total of 27.8% (20/72) underwent neo-adjuvant therapy with Savi Scout in situ. SLNs were identified using Magtrace in 95.9% (70/73) of SLN biopsies, with a mean of 2.7 (standard deviation ± 0.7) SLNs identified per procedure. A total of 78 Savi Scout devices were implanted, one for each lesion. Of these, 97.4% (76/78) were localizable intraoperatively, 100.0% (78/78) were retrieved and none migrated. One patient required re-excision for margin involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined use of Savi Scout and Magtrace is feasible, demonstrates high technical success, and offers pre-operative imaging flexibility in primary surgery for non-palpable breast cancers and post-NST patients. This study evaluates the combination of Savi Scout and Magtrace and demonstrates a practical approach for simultaneous tumor localization and SLN identification.