Clip migration after vacuum-assisted stereotactic breast biopsy: a pitfall in preoperative wire localization

Vacuum-assisted stereotactic breast biopsy has become an irreplaceable instrument in the management of suspicious mammographic lesions. If the initial mammographic lesion becomes obscured or absent following the biopsy, a clip is commonly placed by interventional breast radiologists at the biopsy site. This enables future wire localization if atypical or malignant histology warrants excision. Currently, clip malposition or migration has become increasingly recognized in the literature as a possible complication of stereotactic breast biopsy. As in this case, recognition of migration of the clip was crucial in the planning of the patient's subsequent wire localization procedure. This article aims to increase the awareness of radiologists and surgeons of this potential pitfall to prevent false-negative biopsies and minimize positive surgical margins after wire-guided breast conservation surgery. Routine evaluation of pre- and postbiopsy mammograms and prospective identification of inaccurate clip placement before stereotactic wire localization and excision should be performed.