Significance of localization of nonpalpable breast lesions

As mammography has become more popular for the evaluation of breast symptoms and for the screening ofasymptomatic women, the smaller lesions are being detected before they become palpable, therefore preoperativelocalization became necessary. This has led to the development of several methods for preoperative localization ofnonpalpable lesions. Authors analyzed 50 cases with preoperative localizations in 45 patients which had abnormalfindings on film mammogram or ultrasonomammogram since October 1985 through March 1990 at Yondong SeveranceHospital, College of Medicine, Yonsie University. The results were as follows; 1. Techniques of localization werespot method in 8 cases, conventional needle localization method in 38 cases and Kopan's needle localization methodin 4 cases. 2. The most common mammographic indication for localization was focal calcifications in 29 cases(58%),which was followed by a newly developed mass in 25 cases(50%). 3. Outcome of pathologically confirmed diagnosisput into benign lesions in 37 cases (74%) and malignant lesions in 13 cases (26%). 4. Among the cases withlocalization of lesions which has suggested as benign lesions in film and ultrasonomammogram, all cases(100%) wereconfirmed in benign lesions pathologically. Among the cases with localization of lesions which has suggested asmalignant lesions in film and ultrasonomammogram, pathologic malignancy has been proved of 44% and possiblehistopathologic precursor of malignancy was resulted in 25% such as atypical hyperplasia and adenosis.Conclusively, authors considered that the abnormal areas should be removed in their entirety with the scrifice ofminimum volume of contiguous normal breast tissue through the preoperative localization, hence our preoperativelocalization has contributed faverable prognosis based on minimal leisons in early stage breast cancer.