Intraoperative Breast Ultrasound: Better for Surgeons, Better for Patients

Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is one of the most common procedures worldwide, yet surgeons without ultrasound skills often rely on preoperative localization (POL) performed by radiologists. This separate procedure adds significant burden, cost, and anxiety for the patient. Research shows that margin positivity and re-excision rates are significantly higher with POL compared to surgeon-performed intraoperative ultrasound-guided localization (IOL).

In this Clinical Panel, Dr. Nimmi Kapoor and Dr. Lauren Kopicky explore why IOL is a superior approach for both surgeons and patients. Dr. Kapoor shares technical insights from the UCLA experience, demonstrating how IOL can be completed in under 5 minutes with high precision. The session moves beyond basic techniques into a high-complexity dialogue, addressing the learning curve for residents and the integration of ultrasound as a standard surgical tool to ensure optimal oncologic outcomes and patient satisfaction.