title: Clustered intramammary microcalcifications not associated with a mass.
abstract: Over a period of two and a half years, 36 biopsies performed for clustered microcalcifications not associated with a mass revealed 30 benign and 6 malignant lesions. Of the 30 benign cases, 4 showed histological features which are thought to be associated with an increased risk of developing carcinoma. As similarities can exist in the mammographic appearances between benign and malignant microcalcifications, clusters of microcalcifications showing overlapping features or increasing in number over time require histopathologic study as there is no radiologic means at present of predicting which cluster will be malignant. We observe that our Chinese female population has a tendency towards dense breast parenchyma often associated with microcalcifications, both scattered and clustered. The presence of these clustered microcalcifications prompts biopsy even though the yield for malignancy is anticipated to be low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fok
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged