Chester County Hospital continues to offer the most advanced treatment options to patients with breast tumors and lesions, including the new SAVI SCOUT® radar localization system. SAVI SCOUT is an FDA-approved device used by surgeons and radiologists to precisely locate and direct the removal of a tumor during a lumpectomy or surgical biopsy procedure.
With SAVI SCOUT, a radiologist places a tiny reflector (the size of a grain of rice) at the tumor site up to 30 days prior to breast surgery. During surgery, the device uses advanced radar technology to provide real-time surgical guidance to detect the location of the reflector and the tumor with extreme accuracy.
Previously, wire localization was the predominate approach to breast tumor localization. However, this wire-based procedure came with drawbacks, including displacement and migration of the wire, reduced accuracy in finding the tumor and increased delays in the operating room.
"Breast surgery can be physically and emotionally distressing for women, and we strive to find ways to create a better experience-and better outcomes-for our patients," says Catherine Porter, DO, Breast Surgeon at Penn Women's Specialty Center. "SAVI SCOUT resolves one of the challenges of breast conservation surgery by eliminating the need to place a wire inside breast tissue to locate a tumor."
The localization system enables surgeons to precisely locate and plan the removal of a tumor during a lumpectomy or surgical biopsy. "The ability to strategically plan the incision can result in less healthy breast tissue being removed during the procedure, which can lead to a better cosmetic outcome," explains Susan Chang, MD, Breast Surgeon at Penn Women's Specialty Center. "SAVI SCOUT can provide benefits for not only early breast cancer patients, but for anyone with a non-palpable abnormality (those that cannot be felt) that requires an excision."
Eugene Glavin, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at Chester County Hospital adds, "We're proud to bring the new SAVI SCOUT radar localization system to our patients who need breast conservation surgeries. As research and technology advances, we're committed to adopting the safest and most progressive treatment options for women and men with breast tumors."