title: The role of mammographic calcification in the neoadjuvant therapy of breast cancer imaging evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Investigate the patterns of mammographically detected calcifications before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) to determine their value for efficacy evaluation and surgical decision making.
  
  
  METHODS
  187 patients with malignant mammographic calcifications were followed to record the appearances and changes in the calcifications and to analyze their responses to NACT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with calcifications had higher rates of hormonal receptor (HR) positive tumors (74.3% versus 64.6%) and HER2 positive tumors (51.3% versus 33.4%, p = 0.004) and a similar pathologic complete response (pCR) rate compared to patients without calcifications (35.4% versus 29.8%). After NACT, the range of calcification decreased in 40% of patients, increased in 7.5% and remained stable in 52.5%; the calcification density decreased in 15% of patients, increased in 7.5% and remained stable in 77.5%; none of these change patterns were related to tumor response rate. No significant correlation was observed between the calcification appearance (morphology, distribution, range, diameter or density) and tumor subtypes or pCR rates. Among patients with malignant calcifications, 54 showed calcifications alone, 40 occurred with an architectural distortion (AD) and 93 with a mass. Calcifications were observed inside the tumor in 44% of patients and outside in 56%, with similar pCR rates and patterns of change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcification appearance did not clearly change after NACT, and calcification patterns were not related to pCR rate, suggesting that mammogram may not accurate to evaluate tumor response changes. Microcalcifications visible after NACT is essential for determining the extent of excision, patients with calcifications that occurred outside of the mass still had the opportunity for breast conservation.
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jun-jie
authors: JJ
authors: Li
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Canming
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yajia
authors: Y
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Genhong
authors: G
authors: Di
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jiong
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Guangyu
authors: G
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Center and Cancer Institute, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: ZhiMin
authors: Z
authors: Shao
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000378:metabolism; D003657:Decision Making; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone