A Pathologists Purview of Breast Calcifications
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
Kaynakça
- Stephens TW, Whitman GJ, Stelling CB. Typical benign calcifications of the breast that do not require biopsy. The Radiologist. 2003;10:1-9.
- Whitman GJ, Stephens TW, Hopkins K. Benign and malignant breast calcifications. Contemporary Diagnostic Radiology. 2002;25:1-6.
- Borecky N, Rickard M. Preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma within fibroadenoma on screening mammograms. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2008;52:64-7.
- Lehman CD, Rutter CM, Eby PR, White E, Buist DS, Taplin SH. Lesion and patient characteristics associated with malignancy after a probably benign finding on community practice mammography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008;190:511-5.
- Cardenosa G, Mendelson E, Bassett L, et al. Appropriate imaging work-up of breast microcalcifications. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria. Radiology. 2000;215:973-80.
- ACR. American College of Radiology: Illustrated Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS). 3rd ed. Reston, VA: American College of Radiology. 1998.
- D'Orsi CJ, Bassett LW, Berg WA, et al. Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System: ACR BI-RADSMammography (ed 4). 4th. Reston, Virginia: American College of Radiology. 2003.
- D'Orsi CJ, Kopans DB. Mammographic feature analysis. Semin Roentgenol. 1993;28:204-30.
- Bassett LW. Mammographic analysis of calcifications. Radiol Clin North Am. 1992;30:93-105.
- Sickles EA. Breast calcifications: mammographic evaluation. Radiology. 1986;160:289-93.
