Background: Tissue markers are inserted into the breast after percutaneous biopsy to mark the site of the lesion to facilitate potential re-localisation. Tissue markers are increasingly developed with improved sonographic visibility due to benefits conferred by ultrasound-guided localisation.
Objectives: We aim to study the sonographic visibility of the recently-introduced UltracorTM TwirlTM tissue marker and feasibility of its pre-operative localisation under ultrasound guidance.
Methods: All patients who underwent insertion of the UltracorTM TwirlTM tissue marker in our institution from July 2017 to December 2018 were reviewed. Retrospective data including sonographic visibility, evidence of migration and rate of successful surgical excision were collected.
Results: All tissue markers were visible on subsequent ultrasound with 198 (85.0%) well-visualised with high degree of confidence while 35 (15.0%) were moderately well-visualised with moderate level of confidence. None of the tissue markers were poorly visualised and none demonstrated migration. No statistical difference in sonographic visibility is seen based on interval duration between deployment and subsequent ultrasound assessment or depth of tissue marker.
Conclusion: UltracorTM TwirlTM demonstrates consistent sonographic visibility, identifiable with a high or moderate level of confidence with no associated migration. Its use in pre-operative localisation with ultrasound guidance is therefore both reliable and feasible.
Keywords: Breast ultrasound; breast cancer; preoperative localization; tissue marker.