The Magseed procedure allows to localize impalpable tumours with the help of magnetic seed.

Reliably mark and remove non-palpable breast tumours; and this, without the use of the hookwires or radioactivity. As one of the first institutions, the Multidisciplinary Breast

Center of the University Hospitals Leuven tested the procedure in practice. Surgical Oncologist Prof. Dr. Ann Smeets talks abour her experience:

You have been among the first clinicians to use Magseed in EMEA: How was your first impression on the new technology?

Prof. Dr. Ann Smeets: From the first interventions we were very enthusiastic. It was easy to performe the procedure, well tolerated by the patients and the operations went very well.

Why are you considering to employ an alternative to your current method?

We have always used the hookwire method in our hospital. It is complicated, painfull for the patient and has a long workflow. At the time we were thinking about switching to the

tradioactive seeds localisation procedure, I find out about the idea of the Magseed procedure which sounded much more comfortables. This was really what we were waiting for.

What are the benefits of Magseed compared to the hookwire method and the radioactive seeds method?

Compared to both methods, the worklflow with the magseed is much easier. We don’t have to manage all the radioactive safety issues that we have to with the radioactive seed procedure. And compared to the hookwire method, there are different advantages. With the old method the patient had to go first in the morning to the radiology department and with an delay, in surgery.

In what way do you think patients can benefit from the new method?

A few years ago, one of our patients had the same procedure on the other breast using the wire method. Now we did the localisation with the magseed and this lady told us that it was much less painful, it was quicker, the time in radiology was shorter.

Do you believe Magseed has the potential to become the new standard of care for impalpable lesion localisation?

I think so and I hope so. At the moment I only see advantages in the procedure.