The diagnosis and management of pre-invasive breast disease: radiological diagnosis

Pre-invasive disease is most frequently diagnosed in asymptomatic women following detection of microcalcification at mammography. The vast majority is ductal carcinoma in situ. This article summarizes the radiological features of pre-invasive disease and indicates which features are helpful in differentiating between benign and malignant conditions. The value of finding ductal carcinoma in situ at screening, predicting the presence of an invasive focus and methods of percutaneous biopsy of calcification are also addressed.