WIRE FRAGMENTS AFTER NEEDLE LOCALIZATION

OBJECTIVE. Scant information exists on the natural history of a retain ed wire fragment after needle localization for breast biopsy. We revie w 10 cases in which wire fragments were present 1.5-11 years after sur gery. CONCLUSION. Only one patient had symptoms attributed to the reta ined wire. Position of the wire fragment in the breast remained stable over time. Our management recommendations include early mammographic follow-up at 3 and 6 months to reveal stability in asymptomatic patien ts and excision of fragments in symptomatic patients.