Technical Considerations for Red Marking Ink Use When Interpreting Specimen Radiographs: Case Report

Abstract

Artifacts are universal across all imaging modalities, varying in their conspicuity and significance. In this report three patients with pathology-proven breast cancer who had densities masquerading as microcalcifications at the resection margins of the lumpectomy specimens, but had negative microscopic margins, will be discussed. It was determined that these pseudocalcifications were the result of ink precipitates from a commonly utilized tissue marking dye. This artifact was further evaluated and reproduced by utilizing a boneless chicken breast as a phantom. RSNA, 2016.

Update of the American Society of Breast Surgeons Toolbox to address the lumpectomy reoperation epidemic

“…Without this maneuver, they could not confirm that the target seed was removed with the specimen. Lastly, Brice et al identified a specific type of "red ink", employed for specimen orientation that created a pattern of micro-calcifications that were suspicious for cancer on specimen imaging (67). Other ink colors were not associated with this pattern.…”