Radioactive Seed vs. Wire: Rethinking Breast Cancer Localization

From Surgical Readings by The American College of Surgeons

March 4, 2026 · 15 min · Episode 24

About this episode

This episode discusses a study comparing radioactive seed localization and wire placement for breast cancer surgery, highlighting patient experience and satisfaction.

In this episode of Surgical Readings, host Rick Greene, MD, FACS, connects with Lejla Hadzikadic-Gusic, MD, MS, FACS, for an engaging conversation about a study that is reshaping the way surgeons localize nonpalpable malignant breast disease. Dr. Hadzikadic-Gusic discusses her randomized trial, published in the Annals of Surgery (A Randomized, Single-Center, Superiority Trial of Radioactive Seed Location versus Wire Localization for Malignant Breast Disease), comparing two commonly used localization methods: traditional wire placement and radioactive seed technique. Listeners will hear how her team set out to answer an important question in breast surgery: Can we improve the patient experience without compromising clinical outcomes? While both techniques performed similarly in achieving clear surgical margins, the study uncovered compelling differences in what matters to patients and care teams. Tune in to learn how radioactive seed localization led to higher satisfaction, less anxiety, and greater convenience for patients—and offered workflow advantages for surgeons. Talk about the podcast on social media using the hashtag #SurgicalReadings Copyright © 2026 by the American…

People in this episode

Host: Rick Greene, MD, FACS

Guest: Lejla Hadzikadic-Gusic, MD, MS, FACS

Topics covered

breast cancer localization
surgical techniques
patient experience
clinical outcomes
randomized trial

Keywords

breast cancer
localization methods
radioactive seed
wire placement
surgical margins
patient satisfaction
clinical outcomes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Annals of Surgery, American College of Surgeons