What is the purpose of using radiopaque clips during biopsy planning?

• A. They help correlate lesion location across imaging modalities and guide future reference.
• B. They prevent the biopsy.
• C. They are cosmetic only.
• D. They replace pathology.

Answer: (A)

Marker clips act as fiducial references placed at the biopsy site so the exact location can be seen on imaging afterward. Their radiopacity means radiologists can identify where the tissue sample came from across different imaging studies, helping to correlate the lesion’s position between mammography, ultrasound, MRI, or CT and to reference that spot for future reference or surgical planning. This is especially important for non-palpable lesions or when imaging findings change during treatment, as the clip provides a consistent anchor for locating the target area. They do not prevent biopsy, are not cosmetic, and do not replace pathology.