title: Calcium oxalate microcalcifications in the breast.
abstract: Calcium oxalate calcifications can be difficult to detect with routine histologic procedures. In the reported case, microcalcifications that were evident with radiography of the specimen and of the paraffin blocks could not be detected with light microscopy. Polarized light microscopy, however, revealed the calcifications to be calcium oxalate crystals. Use of polarized light microscopy may resolve radiologic-pathologic discrepancies in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Surratt
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Monsees
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazoujian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D002129:Calcium Oxalate