Abstract
Two hundred fifty-one consecutive patients were treated between 1964 and 1982 with mammographic calcifications as the only reason for breast biopsy. Patients with either clinical or x-ray findings other than calcifications were excluded. A correlation of the x-ray, pathology, and clinical experience is the basis of this report. Specimen radiography with paraffin section histology (i.e., no frozen section) was performed on all biopsy material. The procedure of specimen radiography that was utilized is described. A team approach involving radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons has been essential both to confirm excision of the calcifications and localize them for pathology study. Carcinoma was found in 45 patients (17%). A retrospective study of the calcifications was also undertaken to determine characteristics that would permit definitive radiographic diagnosis of benign or malignant disease.
Full text
PDF




Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Ahmed A. Calcification in human breast carcinomas: ultrastructural observations. J Pathol. 1975 Dec;117(4):247–251. doi: 10.1002/path.1711170407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BLACK J. W., YOUNG B. A RADIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE INCIDENCE OF CALCIFICATION IN DISEASES OF THE BREAST AND NEOPLASMS OF OTHER TISSUES. Br J Radiol. 1965 Aug;38:596–598. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-38-452-596. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Egan R. L., McSweeney M. B., Sewell C. W. Intramammary calcifications without an associated mass in benign and malignant diseases. Radiology. 1980 Oct;137(1 Pt 1):1–7. doi: 10.1148/radiology.137.1.7422830. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GERSHON-COHEN J., YIU L. S., BERGER S. M. The diagnostic importance of calcareous patterns in roentgenography of breast cancer. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1962 Dec;88:1117–1125. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gershon-Cohen J., Berger S. M. Breast cancer with microcalcifications: diagnostic difficulties. Radiology. 1966 Oct;87(4):613–622. doi: 10.1148/87.4.613. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hassler O. Microradiographic investigations of calcifications of the female breast. Cancer. 1969 May;23(5):1103–1109. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(196905)23:5<1103::aid-cncr2820230514>3.0.co;2-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LEBORGNE R. Diagnosis of tumors of the breast by simple roentgenography; calcifications in carcinomas. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther. 1951 Jan;65(1):1–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LEVITAN L. H., WITTEN D. M., HARRISON E. G., Jr CALCIFICATION IN BREAST DISEASE MAMMOGRAPHIC-PATHOLOGIC CORRELATION. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1964 Jul;92:29–39. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Millis R. R., Davis R., Stacey A. J. The detection and significance of calcifications in the breast: a radiological and pathological study. Br J Radiol. 1976 Jan;49(577):12–26. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-49-577-12. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Murphy W. A., DeSchryver-Kecskemeti K. Isolated clustered microcalcifications in the breast: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiology. 1978 May;127(2):335–341. doi: 10.1148/127.2.335. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rogers J. V., Jr, Powell R. W. Mammographic indications for biopsy of clinically normal breasts: correlation with pathologic findings in 72 cases. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1972 Aug;115(4):794–800. doi: 10.2214/ajr.115.4.794. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rosen P. P., Snyder R. E., Robbins G. Specimen radiography for nonpalpable breast lesions found by mammography: procedures and results. Cancer. 1974 Dec;34(6):2028–2033. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197412)34:6<2028::aid-cncr2820340622>3.0.co;2-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sickles E. A., Doi K., Genant H. K. Magnification film mammography: image quality and clinical studies. Radiology. 1977 Oct;125(1):69–76. doi: 10.1148/125.1.69. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sickles E. A. Further experience with microfocal spot magnification mammography in the assessment of clustered breast microcalcifications. Radiology. 1980 Oct;137(1 Pt 1):9–14. doi: 10.1148/radiology.137.1.7422866. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simon N., Lesnick G. J., Lerer W. N., Bachman A. L. Roentgenographic localization of small lesions of the breast by the spot method. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1972 Apr;134(4):572–574. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]



