News

Henderson Hospital is the first in Nevada to utilize the LOCalizer, a breast lesion localization system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Spring 2017.

The LOCalizer uses a small, non-radioactive radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag system to identify the exact location of a lesion (or lump) before breast surgery.  It does not use wires or radioactive seeds. Instead, after the breast area is numbed, the tag is implanted via a needle and guided to the lesion while using ultrasound or X-ray imaging for placement. The procedure can be performed up to 30 days before breast surgery, and isn’t felt by the patient after placement.

The LOCalizer differs from other methods because it replaces the traditional needle and wire, explained breast surgeon M. Ferra Lin-Duffy, DO, who has utilized the device several times for patients at Henderson Hospital. “Patients won’t see something sticking out of their breast and be concerned movement might dislodge it,” she explained. “They can also have it implanted prior to surgery instead of coming in several hours before surgery time.”

During surgery, the physician uses the LOCalizer reader and sterile probe to confirm the placement and ID of the tag, and uses this information to chart the surgical path to remove the lesion. Because the reader displays the distance and location of the tag, the surgeon can more efficiently locate and remove the lesion, along with the tag. This reduces the patient’s time spent in the operating room while limiting the cosmetic impact to the breast.

“I’m pleased Henderson Hospital can provide this new technology for our patients’ benefit,” said Sam Kaufman, CEO/Managing Director of Henderson Hospital. “Our goal is to continuously find new ways to improve our patients’ experience when they are with us.”