[Subclinical breast lesions manifested by microcalcifications. Historadiologic correlations. Apropos of a retrospective series of 127 cases]

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the correlations between the histology and radiology of microcalcifications revealing subclinical carcinoma.

Type of study: A retrospective series of 127 exereses of microcalcifications of the breast identified on preoperative radiographs.

Results: Histology revealed 43 (33.9%) carcinomas including 72% in situ cancers and 17 borderline lesions (13.3%) for a total of 47.2% cancerous or high risk lesions. 56% of the malignant lesions were diagnosed by mammography during screening. In most cases, conservative treatment was carried out. Axillary node invasion was not found in any of the cases of in situ carcinoma. 16% of the invasive carcinomas were pN+. Re-examination of the radiographs revealed that there was a correlation between the histology and the radiographic findings. 68% (n = 59) of the localizations with less than 30 microcalcifications were benign and 73% (n = 30) were malignant. The triangular appearance of the microcalcification localizations rwas in favour of a carcinoma in 88% (n = 22) cases. The polymorphism microcalcifications within a given localization was suggestive of malignancy in 69% (n = 25%). On the basis of data in the literature, different criteria can be used to provide precise information preoperatively.