Breast Cancer Localization Technology Without Wires

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women with an estimated one in eight women in the United States developing it during their lifetime. While breast cancer is much less common in men, it can still occur. Before wire-free localization, breast abnormalities were commonly marked with a wire placed into the breast on the day of surgery. The physicians would use the wires, which protruded outside of the breast, to guide them to the location of the lesion for removal. Because of the external wires, patients had to coordinate the lesion marking and surgery on the same day, which could be uncomfortable and inconvenient. However, there is now an improved option for tumor marking that is more comfortable and can be performed weeks before the removal surgery – and most importantly, there are no external wires.

Kingman Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in Northwest Arizona to use the MOLLI Surgical wire-free and radiation-free breast cancer localization technology for the marking of breast cancer tumors and abnormalities for surgery or biopsy. The MOLLI Marker device features the smallest localization marker available to precisely identify tumor location before surgery to remove the lesion. This helps surgeons locate and remove targeted tissue more efficiently while supporting a more comfortable patient experience.

What is the MOLLI Marker?

The MOLLI Marker is a wire-free, magnetic seed localization device used to mark the location of breast lesions before surgery. This magnetic marker helps guide the surgeon using a device that detects the implanted seed with audio sounds. Once the location is confirmed, the breast abnormality is removed along with the MOLLI Marker. At 3.2 mm in length, the MOLLI Marker is smaller than a grain of rice but remains highly visible to the surgeon’s detection wand in dense breast tissue.

Why choose MOLLI for breast tumor localization?

The ability to use wire-free localization compared to wire-guided localization, may benefit KRMC patients and surgeons with reduced complications, increased satisfaction and improved efficiency.

• No external wires: The marker is placed completely inside the breast, eliminating the discomfort and inconvenience of a protruding wire
• More scheduling flexibility: The MOLLI Marker can be implanted up to 30 days before surgery, rather than requiring placement on the day of surgery
• Wire-free and radiation-free: The system uses magnetic technology instead of radioactive seed localization
• Precise localization: The marker helps guide the surgeon to the targeted tissue for removal
• Improved patient experience: Wire-free localization may reduce stress, improve comfort and support a smoother surgical process with fewer complications, increased satisfaction and improved efficiency