Significance and diagnostic value of fine calcifications detected by mammography in female breast

In 1951, Leborgen pointed out the special diagnostic importance of punctate calcifications in the diagnosis of breast cancer by mammography. Calcifications within the breast may occure in both malignant and benign diseases, the characteristic findings have been reported subsequently by many other investigators. This study was done toreevalute the significance and diagnostic value of calcifications of female breast cancers. The clinical materals were 980 cases of those underwent mammography, and 76 cases of those histopathologically diagnosis was confirmed. Fine calcifications were radiologically found in 24 cases of these 76. A morphological analysis was made inregards to the relationship between the calcific particles and various mammary diseases. The results were asfollows; 1. The irregularly fine spiculate and punctate calcifications were found in 11 cases (45.8%) of cancergroup, and rather uniformly fine smooth calcifications were found in 14 out of 52 cases (26.9%) of benign conditions. 2. In cancer group, the calcifications were finely punctate or spiculate in shape and in numerable innumber with a tendency toward formation of densely packed clusters within and adjacent to the lesional areas. Nospiculate calcifications were observed in benign conditions. There were, however, no difference in either size ordensity of particles in both benign and malignant conditions. 3. These fine calcifications of the breast detectedby mammography seem to be a useful marker in localizing so small a lesion as not to be palpable and in obtaining proper biopsy specimen.