[Preoperative location of deep subclinical breast lesions using the harpoon technic. Apropos of 149 cases]

Since April 1983, harpoon technique was used for limited excision of subclinical mammography-observed anomalies. The procedure involves the insertion of a harpoon-shaped metallic thread, after detection by mammography, to obtain guidance of surgical procedures. The results of 155 procedures in 149 patients included detection of 38 cancers (26%), confirming documented data in this field.