Radioactive seed localization for breast conservation surgery: Low positive margin rate with no learning curve

Background Radioactive seed localization (RSL) is an alternative to wire localization. We compared the rate of positive margins for evidence of a learning curve in implementing RSL. Methods A retrospective review of RSL by three surgeons at a single institution from 2002 to 2016. Positive margins were defined as ink on tumor. Results Surgeon experience with RSL for ranged from 142 to >500 cases. The positive margin rate among the first 100 of each surgeons’ experience (n = 300) was 2.3% and the rate during the most recent up to 100 cases after experience with at least 100 RSL procedures (n = 242) was 4.1% (p = 0.32). Individual surgeon's positive margin rates ranged from 2 to 5% in the early experience and 2–7% in the later experience (p = NS). Conclusions RSL for breast conservation surgery has a low rate of positive margins even early in a surgeon's experience. Implementation of RSL can be done with no evidence of a learning curve.