No clip placed at biopsy, MRI scheduled

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Pollie
Pollie Member Posts: 4
edited February 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

My sister had breast cancer a few years ago (and came through her treatments well), so I have yearly mammograms. I had one last week and was surprised when the clinic called at the end of the day and asked me to come in for another mammogram and an ultrasound. From what I can tell, clusters of calcification showed up on the mammograms, but they could not be seen on the ultrasound, and so a biopsy was ordered, which I had a couple of days ago. I was told ahead of time that a clip marker would likely be placed to show the area of concern for future explorations, but in the end the clip marker was not placed, and an MRI was ordered. I don't know what all this testing means, and will of course find out next week, when I get the biopsy results from my family doctor, but in the meantime I've been trying to figure out why an MRI would be needed and also why the mysterious clip was not placed. Could it simply be that the radiologist worried the tissue sample would not be sufficient, hence the MRI? Also, will I be told anything about the MRI results directly after, or will I need to see my family doctor for that too? Anxious to hear if anyone has had similar experiences. I'm reluctant to worry those close to me before I know more.

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  • Numb
    Numb Member Posts: 432
    edited February 2016

    does getting a clip in at a biopsy mean that you are almost certain to have cancer, or why do they put a clip in.  Do they ask you first before they put this clip in.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2016

    The clip is placed to mark the location of biopsy for future reference - it is not dependent on a positive cancer diagnosis, as the clip is placed before knowing what the biopsy results are. Roughly 80% of biopsies do not reveal cancer, but some other benign process, and the clip marks that spot on future imaging.The consent signed for the biopsy should contain information about clip placement, placing one is standard procedure.

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  • Numb
    Numb Member Posts: 432
    edited February 2016

    Thanks Special K.  I guess I signed something just before I got a biopsy but I was so uptight I didn't know what I was signing, thought it was just consent for the actual biopsy.   So if a person has a clip inside them when does it come out if you are not actually getting an operation ?

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited February 2016

    Hi Numb!

    The clip stays unless a subsequent surgery removes it. So if your biopsy is benign, the clip will stay indefinitely. It will help radiologists reviewing future imaging (mammograms/ultrasounds/MRIs) to know that "that" is the place that was biopsied--and had a benign result.

    If your biopsy is positive, the clip will help the surgeon ID the tissue to be removed (based on the biopsy). The clip is usually (but not always) removed during the surgical procedure.

    Check with your radiology team for more information about your particular clip. They are often (always?) titanium--at any rate an inert metal. And very, very tiny. My biopsy team showed me a clip before my biopsy, so I saw how tiny it was. For core needle biopsies, the clip is small enough that it can be placed with the same needle used to take the samples.

    HTH,

    LisaAlissa

    etc: spelling

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  • Numb
    Numb Member Posts: 432
    edited February 2016

    Thank you Lisa for that information.  I will ask about my clip on Monday.

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