Topic: Is titanium marker safe after biopsy?

Feb 26, 2009 04:37 PM ecm wrote:

I have a titanium marker. They are the size of a sesame seed and you can't feel it. Titanium is a really unreactive metal, not ferromagnetic (don't expect to set of any metal detectors) and the clip is mean to stay in place so future mammos can pinpoint where you have already had a biopsy. Titanium is the metal of choice for things like knee/hip replacement and it is very safe. It's a good thing to get the clip placed and have the baseline mammo with the clip so that it can be compared to future films. Good luck with everything- don't let the clip hold you back from getting a biopsy.

Erica

Feb 26, 2009 04:52 PM leaf wrote:

It is possible, although VERY RARE, to have an allergy to titanium.www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11...

In this paper, the clips seemed to associated with decreased recurrance for women who opted for BCT. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11...

It is Possible for the clip to move, but, again, since they care to write a case report, that is unusual too.  Note the clip did NOT enter a blood vessel or travel around the body or anything like that.  The clip is too big to do that. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11...

Titanium metal should be very low in the interference scale with MRIs.

Feb 28, 2009 08:40 AM fulloflife wrote:

Thank you everyone. I am so glad I found this site. I have received more information from all you wonderful people than I have received from my GYN or radiologist. Leaf, you brought up another concern I didn't even consider such as the chip migrating into a blood vessel. I'm in my 50's and there is a good possibility my cells won't be cancerous because all they see are a tiny cluster of micro-calcifications about 3mm, the width of the tip of a pen (the radiologist said). Six months ago they wanted a biopsy done and instead I agreed to a six month follow up. My six month follow up showed the same micro-calcifications without any change at all. They still want the biopsy. Sometimes I wonder if they left my breast alone the micro-calcifications would stay in situ for years. I think I'd rather have them than the chip and IF they turn out to be cancer cells in the area, the needle tract from the biopsy would help them migrate to other areas of my breast. I'm still hesitant, although I told my GYN to write the prescription.

Mar 1, 2009 04:21 PM leaf wrote:

If, for whatever reason, you are DEAD SET against having a marker, then ask the radiologist if they would be willing to do the biopsy and NOT put in a marker.  Unless you have a known allergy to titanium, I wouldn't worry.  Lots of soldiers get metal bits in their bodies and live their entire lives without getting them removed.

But if they are recommending a biopsy, I'd strongly suggest you get that done.  

Erica is right - if 'seeding' does happen in breast cancer, it is EXTREMELY unusual. I could only find a handful of cases in Pubmed, out of many millions of women who had breast cancer.  Probably at least some of these women did not have the usual recommended treatment.

  IF you do have breast cancer, then they have found cancer cells in the washings (to various degrees.)  HOWEVER, they think these cells die - they think that breast cancer cells need a specific environment to grow (unlike the case in some other cancers.)  Even if the breast cancer cells do not die immediately, if you get normal treatment, the cells get killed and/or removed.

If you are very concerned about this, then if you have a lumpectomy, have them remove along the needle tract.  If you have a mastectomy, then the needle tract will also be removed. Get the standard treatment recommended for your condition.

Mar 5, 2009 05:32 PM, edited Mar 5, 2009 05:34 PM by teeko

Full of life: Back in September, I was faced with the same thing you are--what to do about microcalcifications. I ended up having a stereotactic biopsy, and then a needle-guided excisional biopsy. The stereotactic biopsy found certain abnormal cells growing in an unorganized fashion.

You are right; a group of microcalcifications does not equal a lump, but they may still need to take out a portion of that area of the breast to see what the abnormal cells are doing, if you have any, and they call it a lumpectomy anyway.

By the way, the needle placement done before the excisional biopsy to make sure of targeting the area of the calcifications was simple. (Just having the breast numbed while sitting in a chair and having a less-painful-than-usual mammogram done right there to make sure the needle was in the right place. I felt nothing and it was not scary.)

In the end, I was glad I had the stereotactic biopsy and the excisional one, because the latter found ductal carcinoma in situ--that is, cancer in the ducts that had not begun to spread outside. This is about the earliest you can find cancer. I had to have a second excisional biopsy to make sure that there was a large enough clean (no cancer) margin around what they removed the first time, and this time, the surgeon said they had got it all. I was asked to consult a radiologist and then an oncologist about the necessity for further (preventitve) treatment, but both of them said it wasn't necessary. I will continue to have regular checkups and mammograms.

What was strange and makes me doubly grateful for the skill of the technician who read the mammogram that first alerted them to the problem, is that someone along the line wrote in his biopsy report that he couldn't detect calcifications, and again, when they took a mammogram after placing the needle for the first excisional biopsy, the operator said how strange, he couldn't see any calcifications there. But if no one had noticed them and I had had nothing done, I could have an undetected and untreated cancer developing in my breast right now.

I don't know about using stereotactic needles for targeted chemo treatments for breast cancer, but something similar exists for liver cancer, which my husband has (though he refused the treatment). It is called TACE, or transarterial chemoembolization. They have other targeted methods of treatment, too.

Jul 20, 2011 06:00 PM creativemultimedia wrote:

I had a titanium marker inserted post biopsy and would like more information. Actually, my boyfriend is a natural skeptic and he made me want to get a second opinion about safety concerns. My diagnosis is benign for both breast biopsies but now I've started to worry about the damn marker! I need to find reassurance that it is okay to leave in, as I don't need any other breast procedures done (other than a follow-up mammo) in Jan 2012. I'm thinking of calling around to different physicians outside of the place where my procedure was done to get more information.

Sep 29, 2011 06:39 AM spinnerfaster wrote:

I had a biopsy yesterday and was told a metal marker might be inserted if needed.  I asked of all the risk. They did insert and I am concerned.  I researched on line as soon as I could and found many people have the same complaints of pain an infection.  I am not only anxtiously awaiting the results of the biopsy today but had many concerns of this marker insertion. 

Jan 10, 2012 10:26 PM Boops wrote:

I know so very little about all of this, but I, too have concerns about the titanium markers.  I noticed that no one has mentioned that it is considered a heavy metal and typically, heavy metals are toxic to the body.  It's hard to say if it's the clips or the recovery from radiation causing you problems, but I would seriously consider switching doctors and getting a second opinion.  Get someone who listens to you and sets their ego aside.  I prefer women, but go with what your gut instinct tells you.  Dump that doc!

Jan 10, 2012 11:10 PM exbrnxgrl wrote:

Somanywomen,
Are you referring to surgical clips/staples or the titanium marker used to mark a biopsy?The OP is asking about the titanium biopsy marker which is not a replacement for stitches or to stop bleeding. I am sorry that you have been in pain for so long. As for the biopsy marker, see leaf's original posting that provides reference to adverse reaction being very rare.
Caryn

Jan 11, 2012 07:43 AM leaf wrote:

Being 'devil's advocate': They often use titanium in joint replacements and teeth, where it can withstand a lot of force.  But, being good scientists, it sounds like they are developing methods to actually detect the amount of titanium in the blood.  They did find higher, though still very, very low, levels of titanium in people that had titanium implants in joints/teeth that withstood a lot of force versus controls.  www.sciencedaily.com/releases/... Even the controls (who had no titanium in their body) had some level of titanium in their blood.  The people that had implants in places that withstood a lot of force had higher levels (though still very low) of titanium in their blood. They undoubtedly  will use a method like this to monitor titanium levels.  Note I have NOT found any studies that find titanium toxicity in people that have sesame-seed  sized pieces of titanium (besides the VERY RARE people who are allergic to titanium.) If gobs of people were getting a theoretical titanium toxicity, it would have been a lot earlier than 2011 to find a blood test for titanium.

But there should be NO force on a titanium clip in one's breast. So one's titanium level should be quite small.

The particle size may play a difference.  There is some concern and controversy whether titanium in nanoparticles could be toxic to some animals. (It sounds like this is controversial.) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22... But a breast titanium clip is certainly NOT a nanoparticle - its about the size of a sesame seed.

The first modern titanium dental implant was in the 1950s per this website, and they've done millions since then. www.londondentalimplants.com/H...

If you do end up having some sort of breast cancer or a condition that puts you at higher risk for breast cancer, then they usually remove the clip during an excision or mastectomy.  If they are interested in doing a biopsy, then your risk of having something bad happen to you due to your breast lesion is a lot bigger than your risk of something bad happening due to titanium.

Apr 18, 2012 10:09 AM 4whitey wrote:

I had this procedure to insert titanium marker inserted yesteday.  I never heard of this. When did this start to happen? I also am very worried about something being put in my body.  My husband had medical mesh used to repair a hernia and he has had over two years of hell and 4 surgeries to attempt to correct, but the mesh if still in there. In fact, surgeon put a larger piece in to "correct" the first one that got intertwined with his small intestines.  So I am definintely worried about the titanium marker.  I don't have a diagnosis yet.

Sep 16, 2012 09:28 AM SuzyQ2012 wrote:

I am having a stereo biopsy next week. I have been assured by multiple people that the marker is safe.
I never thought about allergies. Although, it hasn't been officially diagnosed, I was told that I probably have an allergy to nickel, as my skin usually gets irritated by jewelry- mostly earrings and rings. I will mention this before the biopsy, however, if it's pure titanium, I guess I'll be ok.

Fulloflife- please get the biopsy done. It's the only way to know for sure what's going on. Talk to your doctor about your fears. Hopefully, you can be reassured. I was told that the markers are necessary because they will know in the future the exact spot of the biopsy. This will save you from unnecessary testing in the future.
Wishing you the best!!!

Sep 16, 2012 10:57 PM awb wrote:

I was told the titanium markers pose no problem and can remain in the breast indefinitely. (mine was removed during my lumpectomy.) The radiologist explained to me that the same kind of markers are used commonly during cardiac and other surgeries and are tolerated well.

anne 

Sep 18, 2012 10:08 PM SuzyQ2012 wrote:

Thanks for the info, Leaf. Sounds like we have the same type of allergy. Glad to know that I should be ok with the markers.

Sep 25, 2012 08:40 AM lukefrancis1 wrote:

hi, it was explained to me that the marker...mine was radioactic minut lead like a small beebe was removed when located with a giger counter and removed with as much as the lesion and area when the excisional proceedure was done.

I still have the so call clip from another stereotactic (where lesion as missed) in me! they assured me no problem! hope this helps.....Again prayers for all big day for me hopefully results of last proceedure.!