Technology Review explores breast marker clips

Dear AuntMinnie.com Member,

In the latest installment of our Technology Review series, contributing editor Tracie L. Thompson explores the state of the art in breast biopsy clips. Clip technology has advanced rapidly in the past few years, but must still compete with homegrown devices developed by breast specialists, according to the story in our Women’s Imaging Digital Community.

The use of biopsy clips parallels recent advances in vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, which frequently removes the entire visible portion of a mammographically detected lesion. Adding a clip to the lesion area can assist surgeons who are following up on the biopsy. Clips are also useful following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which can reduce tumors to the point where they are nearly invisible by themselves.

The article also covers a number of technical issues involved with biopsy clips, such as compatibility with MRI scanning and clip movement following placement. Regarding clip movement, recent studies have found that a significant portion of clips have moved by as much as 1 cm from the target on post-biopsy images.

But breast specialists have developed strategies for dealing with clip movement, and with other technical difficulties involved in clip placement. Find out what they are by visiting our Women’s Imaging Digital Community, at womens.auntminnie.com.

And if you’re interested in viewing other articles in our Technology Review series, just go to the AuntMinnie.com Buyer’s Guide, at buyersguide.auntminnie.com, and click on the articles under "AuntMinnie Technology Reviews" in the left-hand column.