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Department of Radiology, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, UK * Department of Surgery, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, Berkshire, UK
This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract.
Pre-operative localization of impalpable breast lesions detected by mammography has become a routine procedure, especially in those units involved with breast screening. Various techniques are available to facilitate localization, either with the injection of dyes, or using one of a variety of flexible wires or rigid needles.
A new needle, the Hawkins needle*, has recently become available (Urratia et al, 1988), and we wish to describe its use in 99 patients.
The Hawkins needle (Fig. 1) is a co-axial system which consists of a rigid 20-gauge outer sheath with a blunt tip and a small window 1.5 cm from the tip; an inner core has a sharp tip and a spring-hook. When the inner core is advanced the needle point protrudes from the outer sheath; if the core is withdrawn the point is hidden in the sheath and the spring-hook protrudes from the window in the outer sheath. Clear markings at 1 cm intervals are etched on the needle shaft. The proximal end of the inner core has an 18-gauge hub welded to it. There is also a two-part removable plastic hub which fits over the proximal end of the needle. It is available in 10 cm or 12.5 cm lengths.
Key Words: Breast localization • Impalpable breast lesions
* Available from: E-Z-EM Ltd, 1230 High Road, London N20 OLH, UK.
Received for publication August 5, 1991. Revision received November 18, 1991. Accepted for publication January 14, 1992.
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