[Investigation on calcifications in the breast]

This article reported the result of analysis of 96 cases with heaps of calcifications in the breast all verified by operation. The calcifications, according to the appearances on X-ray film were classified into 4 patterns: club-shaped, fine sandy, fragmented stonelike and coalescent. A comprehensive analysis was made in regard to spatial distribution and amount of calcification and the presence of a mass. The results indicated that club-shaped calcification is highly suggestive of malignancy regardless of the amount of calcification and the presence or absence of a mass. Simple fine sandy calcification in the absence of a mass can not differentiate benign from malignancy because of wide range of overlapping, whereas simple fragmented stone and coalescent types, according to the authors opinion denote benign.