Radio guided seed localization of imaged lesions

Abstract

A method of removing lesions by implanting a radioactive seed at the location of the lesion, locating the lesion with the radioactive seed, and removing the lesion with the radioactive seed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of removing lesions by: 
 implanting a radioactive seed at the location of a lesion;    locating the lesion by detecting the radioactivity of the implanted radioactive seed; and    removing the lesion with the radioactive seed.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said implanting step further includes the steps of placing the radioactive seed at the location of the lesion using radioactive imaging and verifying proper placement of the radioactive seed.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said placing step further includes locating the lesion using a radioactive image and injecting the radioactive seed at the location found by the radioactive image.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said verifying step further includes confirming with an additional radioactive image that the radioactive seed is located at the location of the lesion.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said locating step further includes the step of running a radiation detector across the skin surface to determine the highest radiation count.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said removing step further includes anesthetizing the area containing the radioactive seed and lesion, surgically removing the lesion, the radioactive seed and a small amount of surrounding tissue; and then verifying that the radioactive seed has been removed.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said verifying step further includes placing the radiation detector on the lesion, radioactive seed and the surrounding tissue to take an ex vivo radiation count.