This document addresses the use of radioactive seed localization (RSL). This is a technique used to provide localization of nonpalpable breast lesions before breast-conserving surgery. It can be used as an alternative to wire localization (WL) or radio-guided occult lesion localization.

Clinical Indications

Medically Necessary:

Radioactive seed localization of nonpalpable breast lesions is considered medically necessary as a method to localize a nonpalpable breast lesion in advance of surgical excision.

Radioactive seed localization is considered medically necessary to assist in targeted excision of positive axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant therapy.

Not Medically Necessary:

The use of radioactive seed localization is considered not medically necessary when the criteria above have not been met, including but not limited to use as a method to localize palpable breast lesions.