When you’re told you need surgery for breast cancer, there’s one surprising detail that often gets overlooked: your tumor may not be visible—or even detectable—without help. That’s where tumor localization becomes essential. This important step ensures your surgeon can find the tumor precisely, especially if it’s small or hidden.
At Learn Look Locate, we believe understanding every part of your journey—including what happens before surgery—is key to feeling empowered. That’s why we’re proud to share this educational blog sponsored by Sirius Medical™, the creators of Pintuition™, an innovative, wire-free tumor localization system designed to guide your surgeon with GPS-like precision.
Tumor localization is a procedure used before breast cancer surgery to mark the exact location of the tumor—particularly when it cannot be felt during a physical exam. It’s often required for non-palpable tumors, which are typically detected through mammography, ultrasound, or MRI but not easily found by touch.
If you’re undergoing a lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery), tumor localization is a critical step to help your surgeon remove the cancer completely while preserving as much healthy breast tissue as possible.
As imaging technology improves, breast cancers are being detected earlier—and smaller tumors are more common. That’s good news. But smaller tumors are often non-palpable, which means they can’t be felt through the skin or during a surgical exam.
Without localization, a surgeon may struggle to find the tumor precisely, which could lead to:
Localization ensures the tumor is found, removed with accuracy, and confirmed by pathology—giving you better results and peace of mind.
There are several methods used for tumor localization:
The traditional method involves inserting a thin wire into the tumor on the same day as surgery. The wire guides the surgeon to the tumor, but can be uncomfortable and limit flexibility in scheduling.
A small radioactive pellet is placed in the tumor before surgery and later detected with a probe. While effective, this method requires radiation safety measures.
Sirius Medical’s Pintuition™ system uses a tiny magnetic marker placed in the tumor days or weeks before surgery. During surgery, the surgeon uses a handheld probe that provides real-time distance and audio feedback, guiding them precisely to the marker, much like a GPS.
Before surgery, your radiologist will use imaging to place the localization marker into the tumor. This is typically done under local anesthesia and feels similar to a biopsy. If you’re receiving the Pintuition™ marker, this can be done days in advance, reducing stress on the day of surgery.
During surgery, your surgeon will use the probe to detect the magnetic signal from the marker and remove the tumor with high precision. The marker is removed with the tissue.
After surgery, pathology will confirm that the tumor was completely removed and whether the margins are clear.
“I never realized how important it was to find the tumor before surgery. My tumor wasn’t detectable by touch—it was hidden. The localization step is something so few of us understand, but it can make all the difference in having a more precise and less invasive surgery.”
— Cynthia Jordan, Founder of Learn Look Locate
A procedure to guide your surgeon by marking the tumor’s exact location before breast cancer surgery.
To help your surgeon find and remove tumors that cannot be felt during surgery, ensuring better accuracy and outcomes.
Most patients report mild discomfort. Local anesthetic is used, and the experience is often compared to a biopsy.
A wire-free, radiation-free magnetic marker system created by Sirius Medical™ that guides surgeons to the tumor using a handheld probe and real-time feedback.
No. The marker is removed during surgery along with the tumor.
Yes! That’s one of the biggest advantages of Pintuition™—it offers flexibility and reduces same-day stress.
Not yet. Availability varies, so it’s important to ask your care team if they offer Pintuition™ or refer you to a center that does.
Use these questions to help guide a meaningful discussion with your care team:
Tumor localization may seem like a small step, but it plays a huge role in your surgical success. With wire-free options like Pintuition™ by Sirius Medical™, your care team can find your tumor more precisely, potentially improve cosmetic outcomes, and reduce surgical stress.
Knowledge is power, and knowing about localization gives you the confidence to ask the right questions and advocate for the very best care.
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