SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WENY) -- Clinicians and surgeons have been using new technology to test for breast tumors. The Upstate Cancer Center is the only hospital using this technology in New York State, currently.  

“It is a wireless form of localization,” Dr. Ranjna Sharma said.  

 Dr. Sharma is the Chief of Breast Surgery at Upstate Medical University. She is one of the few doctors in New York State that uses Savi Scout, a wire-free localization system to find breast tumors. 

“These wireless technologies are very interesting because they allow us to offer the patient a way to localize the area that needs to be removed without having this, you know...somewhat cumbersome, wire placed in the breast over a few hours on the day of surgery,” she said.  

Dr. Sharma said Savi Scout uses non-radioactive radar tech to provide accurate surgical guidance during surgery. The technology allows specialists to use real-time distance measurement guidance to accurately detect tumors within 1 millimeter of accuracy. Dr. Sharma said the technology also helps patients to feel more comfortable prior to surgery.  

“It takes away a little bit of the anxiety that's experienced on the morning of surgery and also, these reflectors are very small,” she said. “The Savi Scout reflector itself is only about 1.2 cm. in size...it's much, much smaller than a wire would be.”  

 Dr. Sharma said patients travel from around New York State to get top-tier cancer treatment. With this technology, surgeons and clinicians aim to increase the chances of complete cancer removal. 

“It also gives me a depth of where...how deep I need to go to remove it, so where I need to take the tissue from...it's not just telling me the general direction to go, but how deep I need to go, as well,” she said. “We hope it allows our surgeries to be more accurate from that standpoint.”  

For citizens in the Southern Tier, Dr. Sharma hopes patients look into all cancer treatment options throughout the state.