title: Current opinion on clip placement after breast biopsy: a survey of practising radiologists in France and Quebec.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate current practice regarding clip placement after breast biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In June 2011, an online survey instrument was designed using an Internet-based survey site (www.surveymonkey.com) to assess practices and opinions of breast radiologists regarding clip placement after breast biopsy. Radiologists were asked to give personal practice data, describe their current practice regarding clip deployment under stereotactic, ultrasonographic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance, and describe what steps are taken to ensure quality control with regards to clip deployment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 29.9% in France (131 respondents) and 46.7% in Quebec (50 respondents). The great majority of respondents used breast markers in their practice (92.1% in France and 96% in Quebec). In both countries, most reported deploying a clip after percutaneous biopsy under stereotactic or MRI guidance. Regarding clip deployment under ultrasonography, 38% of Quebec radiologists systematically placed a marker after each biopsy, whereas 30% of French radiologists never placed a marker in this situation, mainly due to its cost. Finally, 56.4% of radiologists in France and 54% in Quebec considered that their practice regarding clip deployment after breast percutaneous biopsy had changed in the last 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There continues to be variations in the use of biopsy clips after imaging-guided biopsies, particularly with regards to sonographic techniques. These variations are likely to decrease over time, with the standardization of relatively new investigation protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôpital Tenon, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Institut Universitaire de Cancérologie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France. isabellethomassin@gmail.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thomassin-Naggara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalaguier-Coudray
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chopier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardivon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Trop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D057918:Fiducial Markers; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D053783:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional; D008875:Middle Aged; D011364:Professional Practice; D011792:Quebec; D011871:Radiology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional