Abstract

AGUILAR ZAPAG, R; DE BLEECKER, K  and  NOTARIO CORONEL, A. Breast Microcalcifications: frequency, management and outcome experience in the Mastology Department of the General Surgery Service of the HCIPS. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2007, vol.5, n.1, pp.4-8. ISSN 1812-9528.

Microcalcifications are the most frequent non-palpable lesions of the breast. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of all the patients with non-palpable breast lesions identified by mammography and that were seen in our service from February to December of 2001. All patients in whom microcalcifications were found were identified and managed following the American College of Radiology’s protocols. Patient with lesions of high malignant risk features and intermediate risk features with family history of breast cancer underwent imaging-guided surgical biopsy. Patients with lesions of low malignant risk and intermediate malignant risk features with no family history of breast cancer were managed conservatively, of the 106 patients with non-palpable lesions of the breast seen during the study period, 78 had microcalcifications. Of these, 36 (46.2%) had lesions of low malignant risk; 9 (11.6%) had lesions of intermediate malignant risk; and 33 (42.2%) had lesions of high malignant risk features. At the beginning of the study, total of 36 patients and later 12 more (6 with low risk features an 6 with intermediate risk features with no family history of breast cancer) underwent breast biopsy. Pathologic examination of the specimens demonstrated breast carcinoma in 24 patients (50%), of which 4 were invasive (3 with axillary involvement) and 20 were non-invasive. Microcalcifications represent the most common finding among patients with non-palpable mammary lesions. Its recognition and characterization is critical for the early detection of potentially malignant mammary lesions.

Keywords : Non-palpable breast lesion; microcalcification; invasive breast carcinoma; non-invasive breast carcinoma.

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