LuminoMark: An Alternative for Localization

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Korea. Given the increased preference for breast-conserving surgery (BCS), preoperative localization is crucial, especially for non-palpable lesions, to ensure clear resection margins. Traditional methods such as wire-guided localization have limitations, including patient discomfort and wire migration. Recently, LuminoMark, an indocyanine green–macroaggregated albumin–hyaluronic acid mixture, has emerged as a promising alternative with potential benefits over existing techniques. We present a case of a 67-year-old female with a non-palpable Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System 5 breast lesion. Preoperative localization was performed using LuminoMark, with accurate placement verified by a Lumino-imager. The lesion was successfully excised, and the absence of residual fluorescence confirmed complete resection. LuminoMark provided effective lesion localization without skin pigmentation, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis during follow-up. The procedure demonstrated a short learning curve, similar to that of charcoal localization. However, the need for a costly near-infrared fluorescence detector and the lack of long-term follow-up data are current limitations. Despite minor drawbacks, LuminoMark offers advantages over traditional localization methods, including improved aesthetics and reduced complications. This case demonstrates its feasibility as a next-generation localization technique for BCS, emphasizing the importance of an accurate injection technique to ensure adequate dispersion and complete tumor resection. Further studies are warranted to validate its long-term efficacy.