State-of-the-Art Surgical Breast Cancer Treatment at CRMC

CROSBY, Minn. – Committed to delivering superior care for its patients, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC), is proud to announce its usage of a groundbreaking tumor marker system that reduces pain and increases accuracy during breast cancer surgery. The first surgery using Elucent’s EnVisio® Surgical Navigation System and SmartClip® technology, recently took place at CRMC. The new technology marks a significant advancement for women undergoing lumpectomies, a procedure that removes cancerous tumors and some breast tissue. It improves clinical and cosmetic outcomes by replacing the typically used but painful, non-precise hook-wire localization procedures from the 1970s.

This advanced technology allows physicians to implant the wireless Smartclip Soft Tissue Markers at the time of breast biopsy, or any time prior to surgery. The SmartClip measures about the size of a grain of rice and emits a differentiated electromagnetic signature to provide true real-time 3D coordinates. Surgeons use the 3D indications to accurately pinpoint and precisely mark the location of cancerous tissue that needs to be removed. Once integrated with the surgical cutting tools, it guides the surgeon during the procedure with real-time 3D navigation to locate and highlight malignant tissue seen on standard imaging. SmartClips are FDA-cleared and safe to remain permanently inside patients if it’s determined that surgery is not needed.

It’s estimated that one-in-eight women in the United States is expected to develop breast cancer over her lifetime. As an accredited cancer center, CRMC follows a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment, involving surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists. This collaboration ensures that patients receive the best possible care. To learn more about our premier cancer care destination call 218.545.4497.