Prebiopsy localization of non-palpable breast cancer.

Mammographic screening results in the detection of non-palpable breast lesions which demand surgical excision after careful marking by the radiologist. The main localization procedures are described as well as their preferential indications. Stereotaxic localization and harpoon technique are analysed more in detail and so are their advantages and inconvenients. Continuous research for the best compromise patient tolerance/efficiency/costs of the method remains an absolute necessity. To this regard the use of a carbon material suspension described in 1983 by Svane appears to be a really interesting and promising preoperative tracer.