On 25/6, Associate Professor Doctor Le Hong Quang, Head of the Breast Surgery Department, reported that the unit successfully treated Ms. Mai, 45, residing in Hanoi. Thanks to the new technique, doctors detected Ms. Mai's tumor at a very early stage, when it could not be felt by hand during a routine examination.

The surgical team completely removed the tumor, allowing for adjuvant treatment with hormonal medication without the patient needing to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy. One day after surgery, Ms. Mai walked normally and was discharged after one week to return to her daily life.

According to Associate Professor Quang, while screening for early-stage breast lesions is difficult, precisely locating them for intervention without harming surrounding healthy tissue is even more challenging. Currently, medical science divides non-palpable lesion localization methods into two main groups: wired localization and wireless localization.

Wired localization is a common traditional technique. Imaging doctors use ultrasound, X-ray, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide a special needle into the lesion's position, then thread a wire with a hooked tip to fix it in the breast tissue. The remaining part of the wire protrudes outside the skin and is secured until the surgeon follows this path to remove the tumor. This method is simple and low-cost but can cause patient discomfort and carries the risk of wire displacement.

To overcome these limitations, wireless localization technology emerged as a new advancement. Doctors place a micro-marker device inside the tumor under the guidance of imaging diagnostics. This device is entirely within the body, allowing implantation days or weeks before the procedure without affecting the patient's daily activities.

During surgery, doctors use a specialized probe to locate and determine the tumor's coordinates with millimeter precision, ensuring complete removal of the lesion. Associate Professor Quang added that the choice of localization method depends on the lesion's characteristics, available equipment, and the experience of each medical facility.

Doctors use a lesion localization device to diagnose and treat breast cancer. *Photo: Thai Ha*

Breast cancer has now surpassed liver cancer as the most common cancer in Vietnam. However, it has a high survival rate, exceeding 90% if detected early. Experts recommend that women 40 and older undergo screening, including breast ultrasounds, and mammograms if malignancy is suspected. Some signs and symptoms of breast cancer include: a painless lump in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, swelling in the armpit, changes in nipple shape or discharge, thickened, dimpled, or sunken skin on the breast, or redness of the breast skin.

Le Nga