The value of ultrasound-guided tattooing localization of nonpalpable breast lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of ultrasound-guided tattooing localization (US-tattoo) using a charcoal suspension for breast lesions.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-four nonpalpable breast lesions in 134 patients (mean age 47 years; range 30-74 years) were marked with a charcoal suspension under US guidance. The medical records associated with the US-tattoo, the pathology results and the follow-up US results were reviewed.


RESULTS
The average size of the localized lesions was 1.0 cm. The procedure time was < 5 minutes (range, 2-10 minutes) per lesion. The US-tattoo was well tolerated in all cases. The only technical difficulty encountered was a needle tip blockage caused by a large charcoal particle (4.9%). The surgeon easily identified the tattoo with the exception one case. In addition, surgery could be safely delayed from one to 57 days after the making US-tattoo. The pathology result was benign in 108 cases, borderline in five, and malignant in 51. The excised specimen was < 4 cm in 76.6% (82/107) of the benign cases (mean; 2.7 cm). The pathologist could identify the mass around the tattoo and was able to make a specific diagnosis in 81.3% (87/107) of benign lesions. The only complication encountered was residual charcoal marking along the incision scar (3.6%). All follow-up US documented the removal of the lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
An US-tattoo for nonpalpable breast lesions is a very simple and accurate method that can help surgeons design and schedule an open biopsy.
Department of Radiology and Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 410-769, Korea.
Kyungran
K
Ko
Boo Kyung
BK
Han
Kyung Mi
KM
Jang
Yeon Hyeon
YH
Choe
Jung Hee
JH
Shin
Jung Hyun
JH
Yang
Suk Jin
SJ
Nam
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002606:Charcoal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008875:Middle Aged; D013653:Tattooing / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
D002606:Charcoal