Breast lesion localisation wires: a change in practice

At York Hospital, breast lesion localisation wires have routinely been inserted on the same day as the surgical operation. In August 2003, we offered an additional service where localisation wire insertion was undertaken on the day before surgery. This change in practice was necessary in order that the guidelines for patient waiting times be met. An audit took place to assess the impact of increasing the length of time prior to surgery at which a breast lesion localisation wire is positioned. The audit compared information about patients who had surgery on the day of the localisation wire insertion with patients who had surgery on the day after.

The results of the audit suggest that, in our unit, the placement of a breast lesion localisation wire the day before surgery is a useful technique without any complications.