Ultrasound-Guided Preoperative SAVI SCOUT Radar Reflector Localization of Soft Tissue Masses in the Musculoskeletal System: A Retrospective Case-Control Study of Operative Times and Reoperation Rates.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether ultrasound-guided preoperative localization of soft tissue masses in the musculoskeletal system using a wireless radar reflector reduces operative times and reoperation rates compared to a control group referred by the same oncology team.

METHODS

Retrospective review of SAVI SCOUT radar localizations performed preoperatively for soft tissue masses between 2021 and 2025. All imaging, clinical details, and operative times were evaluated. Comparison was made between the localized group and a control group matched for demographics (age and sex), comorbidities (American Society of Anesthesiologists score), location (trunk versus appendicular; subcutaneous versus deep/subfascial), histopathology (benign versus malignant), and case complexity (primary closure versus flap reconstruction). Cases were performed by the same oncological surgical team referred directly or via the multidisciplinary tumor board during the same time course.

RESULTS

Twenty-four radar localized cases were compared with 24 control cases. Median case time in the SAVI SCOUT group was 52.0 minutes (interquartile range 38.0) and there was no significant difference in case times between the localized and control groups (p > .05). There were no reoperations in the localized group whereas 5 patients in the non-localized control group underwent reoperation for positive margins, though this difference fell short of statistical significance (p = .056). The most common lesions in the localized group were metastatic melanoma (12.5%) and intramuscular myxoma (8.3%), liposarcoma (8.3%), and metastatic leiomyosarcoma (8.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative localization demonstrated no substantial improvement in operative time compared to the non-localized group. However, re-resection rates were higher in the non-localized group.