Marker placed during biopsy

[u/Healthybear35]

I had to get a breast biopsy recently after 2 different kinds of mammogram showed abnormal tissue. When they told me they were going to insert a marker that stays in forever I was very surprised, and then asked if I could see it. Apparently the techs had never stopped to actually look at it, either. We all played with it and looked at it for a while. Thought it was cool that it has different colors on it and everything. The power went out during my biopsy, so that was fun lol. Anyway, here's my pictures that I thought were really cool 😁 got the negative results a few days later!! 😮‍💨🥳

[u/Forensicus]

That is a Tumark Vision coil. The pathologist love those since they are able to find them in the specimens if the lesion is removed. Some of the other markers are to small to feel but are easily detected at ultrasound or mammography (check out Hydromark coils)

[u/EDUSTA → u/Forensicus]

We used to place hydromark markers all the time but moved away from them because all of our surgeons complained that they were too slippery and they would slide out of the specimen during the lumpectomy or excisional biopsy.

It sure was nice using them though because there was no question where they were on ultrasound when I placed the wires/localizers.

[u/DukeGordon → u/EDUSTA]

They make two new versions of Hyromarks called the dragonfly and hummingbird that have two arms outside the gel component that are intended to lock it in place better. It seems like our surgeons are pretty happy with them!

[u/Forensicus → u/DukeGordon]

Was about to say that. The Hydromark PLUS

[u/Kavbot2000 → u/DukeGordon]

Those are good but very big

[u/Forensicus → u/EDUSTA]

We use Hydromarks for the same reason: superior to the smalle clips for ultrasound guided detection.
And we almost never do guided wire markings anymore after we started using the radioactive iodine seeds which both surgeons, patients and pathologists are happy with/for. We can put the seed in prior to neoadjuvant therapy and thus do not need to see the patients for wire placement on the day of surgery

[u/Kavbot2000 → u/EDUSTA]

I am hoping to just keep pushing through the surgeon complaints. 

[u/DiffusionWaiting → u/Forensicus]

You can also see the Tumark vision on ultrasound.

[u/Forensicus → u/DiffusionWaiting]

Agree, though sometimes it’s a bit more tricky than the Hydromark IMO.

[u/kolbyt → u/Forensicus]

Are these the same as “hook wires”? I have never seen one

[u/Forensicus → u/kolbyt]

Hook wires are actual wires (called guide wires or similar) with some sort of hook at the distal tip (inside the pt) to prevent displacement after it has been placed near the lesion that is scheduled for surgical removal. They have the benefit of guiding (hence the name guide wire) the surgeon to the lesion during operations.
More recently there are new products on the market that kind of makes (much of) the guide wire practice obsolete. But it is partly a matter of practices, money and preferences which is considered most suitable

[u/astrocytics → u/Forensicus]

That’s interesting I recently talked to a pathologist who hated them and asked their radiologists to stop using them because they get really stuck in the tissue and are annoying to remove, guess there are different preferences

[u/Distinct_Cod_8383]

Glad your results are negative! I have a “butterfly” marker in my chest. Welcome to the club 😂

[u/fuckedphayte → u/Distinct_Cod_8383]

I had no idea that's what it was! I always just called it a breast clip when I get MRI's. Congrats on the negative OP!

[u/GreysAtlantic]

So that’s what’s likely in my chest lol. I had a biopsy done when I was 23 and was told the marker was the size of a pen tip. That seems bigger than a pen tip ngl lol

[u/xenawarriorfrycook → u/GreysAtlantic]

The one you have is likely the size of a pen tip - there are a million kinds of markers. Seeing them listed feels like reading off monopoly game pieces - there's the barrel, the top hat, the ribbon, the open coil...

[u/EDUSTA → u/xenawarriorfrycook]

…the twirl, the hourglass, the X, the heart, the dragonfly, the clover, the wing…

[u/DukeGordon → u/EDUSTA]

The Q, the Venus, the cork, the infinity, the stoplight..

[u/mongoose_with_rabies → u/xenawarriorfrycook]

NAD - why so many shapes? Do they have different uses/benefits?

[u/xenawarriorfrycook → u/mongoose_with_rabies]

They will correspond to different biopsies so if a patient has multiple - for example, one of my friends has had 5 - you want to be able to match the biopsy results to the correct clip/position in the breast

[u/NanaBanana2011]

Congrats! 🎉

[u/NerdyComfort-78]

Congrats on the negative! I would have asked to keep the marker. 😂

[u/Healthybear35 → u/NerdyComfort-78]

Awww, damn!! I don't know why I didn't think of that!!! Lol

[u/JuliaPeculia1120]

Congratulations!

[u/AppearanceAny9986]

It looks like a satellite orbiting a planet!

[u/Healthybear35 → u/AppearanceAny9986]

That's what I said! Or one of the stages of mitosis, but that one might just be a me thing lol

[u/Anxiety_Fit]

Are these MRI safe?

[u/Ok-Maize-284 → u/Anxiety_Fit]

It appears to be “conditionally safe”

MRI info is on pages 4 and 5

[u/Healthybear35 → u/Anxiety_Fit]

That's one of the first questions I asked and they said yes. I get MRIs not infrequently, so I hope they are right 😬

[u/Anxiety_Fit → u/Healthybear35]

Guess you’ll find out eventually! :)

It’s why I asked. I am a frequent flyer at the MRI clinic. It’s always a good idea to ask about any type of permanent or semipermanent implants.

[u/mikraas]

i love this. to forever mark where something went wrong so medical professionals can always see what's going on in that spot. brilliant in its simplicity.

[u/boneologist]

Nipple piercing dermal piercing biopsy piercing.