Breast biopsy markers assist in the precise localization of biopsy-proven neoplastic breast lesions, minimizing the volume of breast tissue needed to be excised during the surgical removal of the tumor.1 Already, markers have been shown to be useful in the delineation of the tumoral bed, with negative margins reportedly to be as high as 90% with the use of clips.2 Furthermore, biopsy clips are known to be extremely safe, with allergic reactions reported only in exceptionally rare cases.1,3 In addition, successful treatment of breast cancer...

Patient Selection and Imaging 17 patients underwent breast biopsies with subsequent placement of a VizMark breast marker. As part of a related multicenter and institutional-wide breast cancer study protocol, all patients were treated with a 4-month multi-drug neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Follow-up imaging was completed 2-, 4-, and 6-weeks following the initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, also according to the guidelines of the ongoing chemotherapy trial. An MRI was subsequently completed following surgical excision of the residual tumor. 4 ultrasound and 3 digital mammogram examinations were additionally...

VizMark clips were successfully used to localize tumoral beds following multi-drug neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The markers were visible on MRI, US, and radiographic follow-ups, and were excised during lumpectomies (confirmed via specimen radiography). On mammography, the clips were easily recognizable by their lucent centers; the clips were hyperintense on T1-weighted fat-suppressed, and hyperechoic on ultrasound. Pathology analysis of lumpectomy tissue indicated that all of the patients demonstrated complete pathologic response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

VizMark clips were successfully used to mark and later localize breast tumors in patients undergoing multi-drug neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Future research will be needed to assess the efficacy of these markers compared to similar markers in the current standard of breast cancer treatment, including: 1) sonographic identification of the residual tumor bed and 2) marking the tumor bed during guidewire placement.

[1]Thomassin-Naggara I, Lalonde L, David J, Darai E, Uzan S, Trop I. A plea for the biopsy marker: how, why and why not clipping after breast biopsy? Breast Cancer Res Treat 2012;132:881–93. [2]Nurko J, Mancino AT, Whitacre E, Edwards MJ. Surgical benefits conveyed by biopsy site marking system using ultrasound localization. Am J Surg 2005;190:618–22. 0 0 1 98 559 University of Minnesota Medical School 4 1 656 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE [3]Tamai K, Mitsumori M, Fujishiro S, Kokubo M,...