Mammographic and pathologic correlation of microcalcification in disease of the breast

Fifty-five patients with isolated microcalcification clusters and no palpable tumor of the breast were studied. All patients underwent appropriate localization biopsies and had roentgenographic, specimen roentgenographic examination of histologic confirmation that the area of microcalcification was removed. Fifteen patients proved to have a malignant lesion at biopsy and in 40 patients, it proved to be benign. Of the proved cancers, ten were noninvasive. Fourteen of the patients with cancer were free of axillary metastases. The results of the follow-up study, with a mean time of four years, revealed a 100 per cent survival rate and no recurrence of disease. Careful study of the microcalcification clusters, at preoperative mammographic examination, did not show significant differences between the malignant and benign group that could be helpful to the clinician, in predicting the nature of the lesion. Due to the reasonably high, 27 per cent, rate of malignant disease, we believe all patients with isolated microcalcification clusters at preoperative mammographic examination should have a localization biopsy.