A marking device for defining the margins and orientation of radiography
specimens includes a plurality of visually distinctive markers joined by
a base that holds the markers until the markers are secured to a
specimen. The base serves as a holder for the individual markers as the
markers are secured to a specimen with sutures or staples, at which time
the markers are disconnected from the base. One or more markers may be
secured to a specimen as needed to define the orientation of the
specimen. By securing markers to specific locations on a specimen, a
surgeon can indicate to radiologists and pathologists the specimen's
orientation in the body before removal, thus aiding in future study of
the specimen. Since the markers are made either wholly or partially from
radiopaque material, the markers are visible when radiographed.