title: The significance of microcalcifications without palpable mass in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
abstract: Microcalcifications constitute an important part of nonpalpable breast lesions and may be the first sign of a breast carcinoma. Between 1975 and 1984, 150 consecutive patients with clusters of at least five microcalcifications without palpable findings as the only indication for biopsy were treated. One hundred seventy-three groups of microcalcifications were excised and 51 malignancies were detected (29.5%). Most of the malignant lesions were noninfiltrating (56%). Axillary or distant metastases occurred in 11% of the fully evaluable cases. This warrants the expectation that these patients have a very favorable prognosis. Breast biopsy for nonpalpable-clustered microcalcifications is a feasible and valuable procedure. Close cooperation is required between the surgeon, radiologist, and pathologist.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology; D010173:Palpation; D010212:Papilloma / Q000473:pathology