Occult breast calcifications sampled with large-core biopsy: confirmation with radiography of the specimen

In a series of nine stereotaxic large-core biopsies of calcifications, radiography of the specimen was used to ensure that appropriate tissue was removed. In eight cases, calcifications were evident at radiography as well as at histologic evaluation. Four cases were malignant and four were benign, and in one case in which calcification was not evident at either radiographic or histologic evaluation, a benign process was confirmed at surgical excision. Radiography of the specimen is a key component in diagnosis of breast calcifications sampled with large-core technique.