Forum Discussion
Core Biopsy - Titanium Marker Clip?
Hi there,
Wondering if anyone can help with a question regarding a core biopsy... is it normal to have a titanium marker clip inserted into the biopsy site at the time of the procedure, that can be used as a 'marker' for any future screening or treatment?
I have annual screening due to family history. My ultrasound last week showed an abnormality so the doc has asked for a biopsy to be sure. I went for the biopsy yesterday and they told me that they would be putting in a marker clip so I said I didn't want the biopsy until I had talked to my doctor again, which I am doing tomorrow. The idea of a piece of metal, albeit tiny, being left in my body forever sounds very strange for me but the radiologist said it was standard procedure? It is made of the same material as is used for hip and knee replacements etc.
Thanks in advance... x
Wondering if anyone can help with a question regarding a core biopsy... is it normal to have a titanium marker clip inserted into the biopsy site at the time of the procedure, that can be used as a 'marker' for any future screening or treatment?
I have annual screening due to family history. My ultrasound last week showed an abnormality so the doc has asked for a biopsy to be sure. I went for the biopsy yesterday and they told me that they would be putting in a marker clip so I said I didn't want the biopsy until I had talked to my doctor again, which I am doing tomorrow. The idea of a piece of metal, albeit tiny, being left in my body forever sounds very strange for me but the radiologist said it was standard procedure? It is made of the same material as is used for hip and knee replacements etc.
Thanks in advance... x
21 Replies
- I had a marker clip put in when they had taken all the core needle biopsies they needed, so if any further treatment was required they knew exactly where to go as it wasn’t a lump that could be seen or felt. Was also so area could be shown as already investigated on future mammograms if no further treatment required. Didn’t even know it was there, and joked about now I know how my dogs feel to get micro chipped! Lol
I had to go back last week and have a surgical biopsy of the area. Day prior to surgery I had to also have a ROLLIS radioactive seed put in exact same spot, as op. was being carried out via imagery. Check mammogram after insertion showed both markers touching in same spot, thank goodness!
i know the ROLLIS has been taken out, but I’ve actually no idea if they put another marker in the area. - My doctor told me when she put them in and we talked about them. Ever since then the song Titanium pops into my head.
‘shoot me down but I won’t fall. I am titanium!’ - Nefertari said:I also had the clip put in before chemo. It was a pretty easy procedure and I didn't have any problems with it being inside me.
It was in for 6 months till they removed it during surgery. It is pretty small, I was freaking out about this because of the word "clip" until I physically saw it and I relaxed, I was thinking huge metal CLIP ;) my imagination is my downfall!
It was there so they could identify where the tumour was on scans and to see if it grew or shrunk during chemo.
In my case, the chemo killed my tumour and there were only dead cells left when they did the surgery and removed the marker.
Big hugs, we have to go through a lot of strange procedures. Hope all goes well for you x
@Caz1 Hope that the same thing happens for you.
@Nefertari I had exactly the same reaction - I thought it was going to be some big bulldog type clip that you buy at Officeworks, lol... they showed it to me and I felt slightly better but from all of my reading I think it was the right thing to do, and as others have said too, standard procedure. I've had no trouble so far, touch wood.
@kezmusc thank you for your reply. I had it put in and as others have said, it was pretty straight forward. I wish you the best xkezmusc said:I had zero clips put it at either biopsy. No one ever mentioned anything about it. Maybe I should have had a marker, that way they wouldn't be keen to cut out something that has a chance of being nothing :(- @Jax1964 thank you for sharing this. I completely understand that you would have liked to have been told. Kind of unfathomable that they didn't. I wish you the best.
- At my 1 year follow-up they found more suspicious cells in my "good" boob. I had to have a biopsy under mammogram and the technician said she was going to insert "more marker clips".
When I questioned her about the "more" she said, rather condescendingly, that I have several in my bad boob and now I'll have a matching set.
No one at my first surgery mentioned anything about permanent clips and this just added to my feeling that I was just a piece of meat to many medical types.
However, I have a titanium stent in my brain which gives me 15% chance of a stroke so I'm not worried about a few tiny clips in my boobs. I would have liked to be told though. - I had zero clips put it at either biopsy. No one ever mentioned anything about it. Maybe I should have had a marker, that way they wouldn't be keen to cut out something that has a chance of being nothing :(
- I had a couple placed during the hideous biopsy but they were gone eight days later. A friend had a suspicious finding which turned out to be OK but they left some there to mark the investigative site. Given the limits of our mammography technology, as in it just doesn't see everything, it's probably a good idea to leave some guide markers while they're 'in there'.
