Thoracoscopic management of a pericardial migration of a breast biopsy localization wire

Intrathoracic migration of a breast biopsy localization wire is relatively rare and most of the wires end up in the pleural cavity. We report the first case of almost total intrapericardial migration of a monofilament hooked wire that was lost during the breast biopsy procedure. The case was successfully managed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Postulated mechanisms of migration of such wires are reviewed and a new mechanism is proposed.