Occurrence and positive predictive value of additional nonmass findings for risk stratification of breast...

To assess the occurrence and positive predictive value of additional nonmass findings to stratify the risk of breast microcalcifications.

This retrospective evaluation included 278 lesions with vacuum- or image-guided hook-wire biopsy for suspicious microcalcifications. The lesions were categorized into exclusive microcalcifications and microcalcifications with focal asymmetry, tubular density or architectural distortion (ie, nonmass findings). To evaluate the utility of additional nonmass findings for risk stratification, outcome variables were positive predictive values and odds ratios for malignancy and invasive carcinoma.

Forty-five of 278 microcalcification lesions (16%) were associated with nonmass findings: 28 focal asymmetries, 2 tubular densities, and 15 focal asymmetries in conjunction with tubular densities. Architectural distortion was observed in 28 of these cases. The odds ratio for additional nonmass findings relative to exclusive microcalcifications was 5.9 and was statistically significant (P < .00001). Architectural distortion was the most specific indicator for malignancy and invasiveness, with odds ratios of 6.5 (P = .0072) and 5.6 (P = .0214), respectively.

Microcalcifications with nonmass findings were less frequent than exclusive microcalcifications but were more predictive for malignancy. Architectural distortion demonstrated the highest risk of malignancy and invasiveness. Assessment of additional nonmass findings might be useful for further risk stratification of microcalcifications, indications for additional imaging, and pretreatment considerations.