[Small focal lesions of the breast: a clinico-morphological analysis]

Morphological and mammographic study of small (less than 1 cm) focal mammary gland lesions of 170 women revealed foci of typical epithelium proliferation of the ducts and lobules, fibrosing adenosis, small duct papillomas and fibroadenoma, intraductal and ductal carcinoma in situ, sometimes with small invasion foci, infiltrating carcinoma, infiltrating lobular carcinoma. Peculiarities of small focal lesion morphology determine the mammographic picture. Analysis of nodular shadows on the mammogram gives as a rule a possibility to differentiate between benign conditions (focal proliferation of the epithelium, fibroadenoma), early carcinoma (intraductal and lobular in situ, sometimes with small foci of invasion) and infiltrating carcinoma. Calcareous deposits in both benign lesions and carcinomas do not differ mammographically. Morphogenetic link was revealed between foci of epithelium proliferation (benign displasia), intraductal and lobular carcinoma in situ and infiltrating carcinoma. Among 65 cases of non-palpable carcinoma, 31 (47.7%) were classified as early carcinoma and 34 (52.3%) as infiltrating carcinoma with a relatively low histological degree of malignancy. In both groups a good postoperative survival was observed.