[Microcalcifications associated with in situ ductal breast carcinoma. Mammographic and histological correlations with...

This study includes 33 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ and its aim is to detect and classify microcalcifications according to their appearance, mammographically, histologically and morphometrically. From the histological point of view, intraductal carcinomas are classified following the criteria proposed by Holland et al. The types of carcinoma examined reveal the presence of different microcalcifications. The calcifications associated with G1 carcinomas appear as highly compact morphometrically, fine or mainly so mammographically and laminated or mixed histologically; no granular calcifications are observed. On the other hand, calcifications associated with type G2 appear as coarse mammographically, granular histologically and scarcely compact morphometrically. Finally, G3 carcinomas mainly reveal by mammography vermicular calcifications (in a few cases associated with fine ones). Granular calcifications are predominant on histological examination while morphometry shows the poorest level of compactness.