The Value of Ultrasound-Guided Tattooing Localization of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions.
- Author:
Kyungran KO
1
;
Boo Kyung HAN
;
Kyung Mi JANG
;
Yeon Hyeon CHOE
;
Jung Hee SHIN
;
Jung Hyun YANG
;
Suk Jin NAM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Breast, nonpalpable lesions; Breast, biopsy; Biopsies, technology
- MeSH: Adult; Aged; Biopsy, Fine-Needle/methods; Breast/*pathology/surgery; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery; Charcoal/diagnostic use; Female; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Middle Aged; Tattooing/*methods; *Ultrasonography, Interventional
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2007;8(4):295-301
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of ultrasound-guided tattooing localization (US-tattoo) using a charcoal suspension for breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty-four nonpalpable breast lesions in 134 patients (mean age 47 years; range 30-74 years) were marked with a charcoal suspension under US guidance. The medical records associated with the US-tattoo, the pathology results and the follow-up US results were reviewed. RESULTS: The average size of the localized lesions was 1.0 cm. The procedure time was < 5 minutes (range, 2-10 minutes) per lesion. The US-tattoo was well tolerated in all cases. The only technical difficulty encountered was a needle tip blockage caused by a large charcoal particle (4.9%). The surgeon easily identified the tattoo with the exception one case. In addition, surgery could be safely delayed from one to 57 days after the making US-tattoo. The pathology result was benign in 108 cases, borderline in five, and malignant in 51. The excised specimen was < 4 cm in 76.6% (82/107) of the benign cases (mean; 2.7 cm). The pathologist could identify the mass around the tattoo and was able to make a specific diagnosis in 81.3% (87/107) of benign lesions. The only complication encountered was residual charcoal marking along the incision scar (3.6%). All follow-up US documented the removal of the lesions. CONCLUSION: An US-tattoo for nonpalpable breast lesions is a very simple and accurate method that can help surgeons design and schedule an open biopsy.
