# Magnetic tracer for sentinel lymph node biopsy (Magtrace and Sentimag)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/magnetic-sentinel-node-tracer/  
OnCo record `magnetic-sentinel-node-tracer` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

An iron oxide liquid injected into the breast that travels to the first lymph nodes, where a magnetic probe finds them during surgery. It does the job of the radioactive tracer without radioactivity.

## Summary

The FDA approved Endomag's Magtrace and Sentimag magnetic localization system by PMA (P160053, 24 July 2018) under product code PUV, lymph node location system during sentinel biopsy procedure, a class III device; a supplement of 15 April 2024 continues the line. Mammotome, part of Danaher, now sells it after acquiring Endomag. Because the tracer is not radioactive, no nuclear medicine department is needed to give it.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: established
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Magtrace; Sentimag; Superparamagnetic iron oxide tracer; SPIO sentinel node tracer
- Tags: devices-gaps-2026-11
- Principle: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles injected near the tumour drain through lymphatics and are retained in the first nodes; a handheld magnetometer probe detects them in theatre.
- Since: 2018
- Strengths: No radioactive tracer or nuclear medicine slot needed
- Limitations: Needs its own magnetic probe in theatre; Class III device with a single maker

## Sources

- FDA PMA P160053: Magtrace and Sentimag magnetic localization system (24 July 2018): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm?id=P160053
- FDA product code PUV: lymph node location system during sentinel biopsy: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=PUV

## Connected records

- cancers: [Breast cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/breast-cancer/)
- fronts: [Devices & Physical Therapies](https://onco.cc/fronts/devices/), [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Breast lesion localisation markers (wire, magnetic seed, radar reflector, RFID tag)](https://onco.cc/technologies/breast-lesion-localisation/), [Gamma probes, handheld gamma cameras and dose calibrators](https://onco.cc/technologies/gamma-probes-dose-calibrators/), [Sentinel lymph node biopsy](https://onco.cc/technologies/sentinel-node/)
- drugs: [Isosulfan blue (lymphatic mapping dye)](https://onco.cc/drugs/isosulfan-blue/)
- companies: [Mammotome (Danaher)](https://onco.cc/companies/mammotome/)
- terms: [Sentinel node biopsy](https://onco.cc/terms/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy/)

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