White blood cells: Several types of blood cells
that help defend the body against infections from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and
foreign tissue such as abnormal or tumor cells. Certain
cancer treatments (particularly chemotherapy) can reduce the number of these cells and
make a patient more vulnerable to infections. Some types of white blood cells may also
help the body fight certain cancers. (See also neutropenia).
Wire localization:
Also called needle localization. A procedure used to guide a surgical breast biopsy when
the breast lump is difficult to locate or in areas that look suspicious on the x-ray
(mammogram) but do not have a distinct lump. Mammogram or ultrasound images are used to
guide the needle to the suspicious area of the breast. The radiologist typically replaces
the needle with a wire and sends the patient to the surgeon with only a wire in place. The surgeon then uses the path of the wire as a
guide to locate the abnormal area to be removed. Needle localization is usually used when
there is no palpable (able to be felt) lump (i.e., a finding found only or most
convincingly on an imaging study such as a mammogram or ultrasound.
Updated: August 2006
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