A Pathologists Purview of Breast Calcifications

Year 2014, Volume: 39 Issue: 3, 413 - 421, 22.07.2014

Smita Sankaye Sushil Kachewar

https://doi.org/10.17826/cutf.51669

Abstract

Accumulation of calcium or calcium salts in breast parenchyma; where it does not belong naturally leads to an abnormality known as Breast Calcification. When such calcifications occur due mineral deposits in individuals with normal calcium levels, these are called as dystrophic calcifications. As against this, metastatic calcification is the term used when calcification occurs in otherwise normal tissue with elevated calcium levels. Although calcifications in breasts are reported with breast cancers; they can also be seen in benign conditions. They cannot be directly seen by the naked eye. Although sonomammography can demonstrate them many times; often the microcalcifications can go un-noticed. X-ray mammography is the best diagnostic tool to show them reliably; on which they appear as white specks or dots. This article puts forth a Pathologist`s purview of breast calcifications.

Keywords

Breast Calcifications; Imaging; Radiology;Mammography; Pathology

Patolog Gözüyle Meme Kalsifikasyonları

Abstract

Meme parenkimasında biriken kalsiyum ya da kalsiyum tuzları doğal olmadığı gibi Meme Kalsifikasyonu olarak bilinen anormalliğe yolaçar. Böyle kalsifikasyonlar normal kalsiyum düzeyleriyle mineral depolarında ortaya çıktığı zaman bunlara distrofik kalsifikasyon adı verilir. Bundan farkli olarak normal dokularda kalsiyum düzeyinin artmasıy içinse Metastatik Kalsifikasyon terimi kullanılır. Meme kalsifikasyonları meme kanseriyle birlikte bildirilmelerine rağmen iyi huylu olarakda görülebilir. Bunlar çıplak gözle farkedilemeyebilir. Sonomamografiyle bir çok kez görülmelerine rağmen, mikrokalsifikasyonlar farkedilmez. Bu durumlar için en iyi tanı X-RAY Mamografidir ki burada beyaz leke ya da nokta şeklinde görülürler. Bu makalede bir Patologun Meme Kalsifikasyonuyla ilgili görüşüne yer verilmiştir.

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• Yazışma Adresi / Address for Correspondence: Dr. Smita Balwant Sankaye Rural Medical College, PIMS (DU) Loni, Ta-Rahata, Ahmednagar Maharashtra İNDİA Email: [e-mail] G eliş tarihi/Received on: 12.01.2014
• Kabul tarihi/Accepted on:28.02.2014