[The harpoon technic in excision of subclinical mammary lesions. Preliminary results]

Preliminary results are reported of the use of a surgical technique since April 1983 for 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. Preliminary results in 36 cases included the detection of 10 cancers, confirming documented data in this field, and it would therefore appear worthwhile continuing along this pathway of early diagnosis.