[Tumor marking in the female breast--results--consequences]

The author reports on the results of preoperative tumour marking in case of occult changes in the female breast. His observations cover a period of eight years. 18 400 mammographic examinations were performed, and of these 86 occult carcinomas of the breast and 98 occult benign findings were treated surgically. Two changes which had been evaluated radiologically as probably benign--confirmation was obtained later by the course of the disease--must be rated as failures due to technical reasons. The author makes it a point to emphasise that the practising radiologist should not only describe suspicious occult changes which he sees in the mammogram, but should also underline the need for effecting preoperative marking. A localisation device for marking the occult change is absolutely mandatory. All clinically occult changes discovered in the mammogram must be followed by preoperative marking.