A cluster of microcalcifications: women with high risk for breast cancer versus other women.
BACKGROUND
Abnormal screening mammographic findings are the most common presentation of ductal carcinoma in situ, which usually appears as a cluster of microcalcifications. No report has documented the risk of malignancy between the finding of a cluster of microcalcifications and women with high risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
We investigated the morphologic descriptors of a cluster of microcalcifications in women with a high risk for breast cancer and compared the results with the characteristics of a cluster of microcalcifications in other women. A retrospective review was performed for 81 non-palpable clusters of microcalcifications that had stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy.


RESULTS
The frequency of malignancy associated with a cluster of microcalcifications was 27%. The 50% frequency of malignancy with high risk for breast cancer was higher, but not significantly so, than the 24% frequency of 71 cases without high risk for breast cancer (P = 0.125). The frequency of malignancy and ADH of a cluster of microcalcifications with high risk of breast cancer was 70%, significantly higher than the 30% frequency of 71 cases without high risk of breast cancer (P = 0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
A cluster of microcalcifications in women with high risk for breast cancer should be considered suspicious and referred for biopsy.
Uematsu
Takayoshi
T
Department of Breast Imaging and Breast Intervention, Breast Center, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Naga-izumi, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan. t.uematsu@scchr.jp
Kasami
Masako
M
Yuen
Sachiko
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D015996:Survival Rate; D014618:Vacuum