Researchers: Artificial Blood Clots May Aid in Biopsies

Injection of artificial blood clots close to nonpalpable breast abnormalities identified by an MRI may enable accurate detection and surgical removal of the tissue, according to researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Abnormal tissue is sometimes missed with needle localization breast biopsies because of slippage or wires placed under MRI guidance, according to the study published in Annals of Surgery.

Hematomas are easily identified by ultrasound so by injecting a patient's own clotted blood at the abnormal sites, biopsies can then be performed under ultrasound guidance, according to the researchers. The procedure takes about an hour.

Researchers said they were able to create hematomas in 19 of 20 patients and an ultrasound or direct visualization confirmed the removal of the hematomas in all 19. Eight of the biopsies in the study group proved to be malignant.

"This technique can be used not only to localize a MRI-detected lesion, but also to outline the targeted lesion for complete excision and to obtain margins," said Dr. Suzanne Klimberg, co-author of the study.

The procedure is potentially more comfortable for the patient because no wire or needle is left in the breast. It is technically faster and easier because ultrasound is used to visualize directly the location of the hematoma at surgery and to confirm lesion removal in the operating room by specimen ultrasound, according to the researchers.

Other sources: Annals of Surgery, Reuters