Using US Twinkling Artifact to Identify Breast Biopsy Markers: Brief Report

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Breast biopsy markers are crucial for surgical management of node-positive breast cancer.
• Accurate localization of marked lymph nodes is vital for treatment assessment and reducing sentinel lymph node biopsy errors.
• Current methods lack sufficient sonographic visibility for preoperative localization, especially in the axilla.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of color Doppler ultrasound's twinkling artifact for improving the in vivo detection of breast biopsy markers.
• To address the clinical need for enhanced sonographic visibility of breast biopsy markers for preoperative localization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of eight female patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer.
• Conventional B-mode ultrasound imaging was initially used.
• Color Doppler ultrasound was employed to detect biopsy markers when B-mode imaging was insufficient.

Main Results:

• Conventional B-mode ultrasound failed to identify the biopsy marker in all eight patients.
• Color Doppler ultrasound successfully identified the biopsy marker in all patients by leveraging the twinkling artifact.
• This technique improved the sonographic visibility of markers in the breast and axillary lymph nodes.

Conclusions:

• Color Doppler ultrasound's twinkling artifact is a valuable tool for enhancing the in vivo detection of breast biopsy markers.
• This method can overcome limitations of conventional B-mode ultrasound for preoperative localization.
• Improved marker visibility aids in accurate surgical planning and management of breast cancer patients.