Can a breast biopsy clip be seen on ultrasound?

• A. Yes, and it is easily seen on ultrasound
• B. Yes, but it is typically difficult to see on ultrasound
• C. No, it cannot be seen on ultrasound
• D. Only after surgical excision

Answer: (B)

A breast biopsy clip can be seen on ultrasound, but its visibility is variable and often not straightforward. Clips are designed to be radiopaque on mammography, and when they are seen on ultrasound they usually appear as a small, bright echogenic spot with some posterior shadowing. However, factors such as the clip’s size, the design of the marker, the amount of surrounding scar or fibrous tissue, and the ultrasound frequency or angle can make the marker hard to distinguish. Because of this variability, clinicians often find that the clip is detectable on ultrasound in many cases but not reliably in all patients. When the clip isn’t clearly visible on ultrasound, prior imaging (like mammography or MRI) and other localization methods guide subsequent procedures.