Breast tissue markers: Why? What's out there? How do I choose?
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Updated: Oct 17, 2026
A Next-generation Tissue Microarray (ngTMA) Protocol for Biomarker Studies
Published on: September 23, 2014
Ami D Shah1, Anita K Mehta2, Nishi Talati1
1Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029, United States of America.
Tissue marker placement after image-guided breast biopsy has become a routine component of clinical practice. Marker placement distinguishes multiple biopsied lesions within the same breast, prevents re-biopsy of benign lesions, enables multi-modality correlation, guides pre-operative localization and helps confirm surgical target removal. Numerous breast tissue markers are currently available, with varied shapes, composition, and associated bio-absorbable components. This review serves to familiarize the breast interventionalist with the tissue markers most widely available in the United States today and to provide guidance regarding selection of appropriate markers for various clinical settings.
Tissue marker placement after image-guided breast biopsy has become a routine component of clinical practice. Marker placement distinguishes multiple biopsied lesions within the same breast, prevents re-biopsy of benign lesions, enables multi-modality correlation, guides pre-operative localization and helps confirm surgical target removal. Numerous breast tissue markers are currently available, with varied shapes, composition, and associated bio-absorbable components. This review serves to familiarize the breast interventionalist with the tissue markers most widely available in the United States today and to provide guidance regarding selection of appropriate markers for various clinical settings.
