bracketing wires
Multiple guide wires placed around the margins of a breast lesion to assist surgical excision of extensive or multifocal disease.
Full Definition
Bracketing wires are multiple pre-operative localization wires placed by radiologists to delineate the boundaries of extensive breast lesions, particularly large areas of ductal carcinoma in situ or multifocal invasive cancer. Unlike single-wire localization, bracketing involves placing wires at multiple points around the perimeter of the lesion to help surgeons achieve complete excision while minimizing removal of normal breast tissue. This technique is especially valuable for lesions spanning more than 4-5 centimeters or those with irregular configurations that would be difficult to excise completely with single-wire guidance.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify the number and positions of wires placed for surgical planning documentation.
In Context
- "Bracketing wires were placed at the 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions to encompass the 6 cm area of microcalcifications." — Pre-operative imaging report
- "The surgeon successfully excised the entire lesion using the bracketing wires as guidance for the resection margins." — Operative report