The Butler Health System’s Women’s Imaging Center is starting a program this month to better locate instances of breast abnormalities during surgery.

The center will be using radioactive seed localization to help pinpoint cancers, lesions and other abnormalities in the breast. This technology has existed for a few years, but it is new to the health system.

“We’re now able to offer it here,” said imaging supervisor Cindy Schooley.

Dr. Ruthane Reginella, director of women’s imaging, said this localization is used for cancers and abnormalities that are nonpalpable — they can be spotted on ultrasounds or mammograms, but cannot be physically felt.

The seeds are about 1 centimeter or less, and they are composed of Iodine-125, a radioactive isotope of iodine. The seed is injected into the site of the abnormality in the breast.

Reginella said the seed emits radiation, and the surgeon uses a probe to detect the radiation to find where the abnormality exists.

She said this technology is used for several different types of surgeries.

“It’s not just cancer patients,” Reginella said.

Reginella said the seeds emit little radiation — just enough for the surgeon’s probe to pick up on.

“I-125 is a very low-energy isotope. The probe is very sensitive,” Reginella said.

Since the surgeon will have a better idea of where the abnormality is, the doctor is able to remove less tissue.

“That’s one of the advantages,” Schooley said.

Additionally, Reginella said the seeds often reduce the need for a second surgery.

“That’s another advantage,” Reginella said.

The seed is removed during surgery, and is sent back to the manufacturer.

Without this technology, doctors use wire localization, where a wire is placed in the breast to better mark the area for surgery. With this, scheduling is much more complicated, since the center has to coordinate with the operating room to place the wire just before surgery.

With seed localization, the seed can be placed a few days before the surgery without affecting the patient’s daily activities.

“It’s a lot less cumbersome for the patient,” Reginella said.

Schooley said the center hopes to use this type of localization for as many breast surgery cases as possible.

“We hope to do the majority of them with the seed,” Schooley said.

Reginella said she is excited to see the program begin.

“I think we’re really on the cutting edge,” Reginella said.