Sentara Adds New Surgical System To Improve Outcomes For Breast Cancer Patients

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A new surgical system at the Sentara Medical Center in Woodbridge will improve outcomes for breast cancer patients, the hospital said in a news release on Monday.

The Elucent EnVisio Surgical Navigation System and SmartClip technology can target tumors more precisely, leading to more accurate procedures and less post-surgery pain for patients, hospital officials said.

Dr. Jeffrey Sinclair is a surgeon at the Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. "Approximately one-in-eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer," Sinclair said in a news release on Monday. "It is vital that we continue to innovate and raise the standard of care for this growing population. We’re excited to be the first to offer Sentara patients this cutting-edge technology."

Sentara officials said the new technology preserves more healthy breast tissue when compared to the traditional marker system, known as hook-and-wire, which has been used since the 1970s.

The new technology includes a marker the size of a grain of rice that is implanted before the surgery. The marker uses an electromagnetic signal that creates a 3D image of breast tumors.

"This is a big step forward for our breast program,” Dr. Sinclair said. “Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is proud to bring in this state-of-the-art technology to our patients facing breast cancer.”

More information about cancer treatment options at Sentara are available online.