Malignant features of breast tumours at radiography

A consecutive series of 302 cases of microscopically confirmed mammary carcinoma was reviewed mainly with regard to abnormalities indicating malignancy at mammary radiography. Most important was the demonstration of a tumour mass and distortion of adjacent tissues. Calcifications of malignant type were present in 31 per cent of all cases, but led alone to a preclinical diagnosis of malignancy in only 2 per cent of the cases. Carcinomas detectable by both clinical examination and mammary radiography seemed to be as advanced irrespective of whether they were detected at a referral clinic or at screening of asymptomatic women.