WHAT IS BREAST NEEDLE LOCALIZATION?
Breast needle localization or wire localization is a procedure used to aide in a surgical breast biopsy when the breast lump is difficult to locate or in areas that look suspicious on the x-ray (mammogram) but do not have a distinct lump.
WHERE IS BREAST NEEDLE LOCALIZATION OFFERED?
Breast needle localization is offered at the Women’s Imaging Center.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Mammogram or ultrasound images are used to guide the needle to the suspicious area of the breast. The radiologist typically replaces the needle with a flexible wire and sends the patient to their surgeon with only a wire in place. The surgeon then uses the path of the wire as a guide to locate the abnormal area to be removed.
