Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changing patterns of microcalcification on screening mammography for prediction of breast cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The presence of microcalcification on mammography is one of the earliest signs in breast cancer detection. However, it is difficult to distinguish malignant calcifications from benign calcifications. The aim of this study is to evaluate correlation between changing patterns of microcalcification on screening mammography and malignant breast lesions.

Methods

Medical records and diagnostic images of 67 women who had previously undergone at least two digital mammograms at least 6 months apart and underwent mammography-guided needle localization and surgical excision between 2011 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Results

Breast cancer was detected in the surgical specimens of 20 patients (29.9 %). Annual change of extent of microcalcification on mammography showed statistically significant correlation with pathologic outcome (P = 0.023). The changing pattern of new appearance or increased extent of microcalcification on mammography had positive predictive value of 54.8 % for breast cancer, and it was a statistically significant predictor for breast cancer (P = 0.012). Shape or number change of microcalcification without increased extent had less accurate predictive value for breast cancer, particularly in women younger than 50 years (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study showed that the pattern of increased extent of microcalcification on screening mammography was a significant predictor for breast cancer. We suggest that mammography-guided needle localization and surgical excision should be considered when increased extent of microcalcification is observed on screening mammography and closed follow-up without pathologic confirmation can be permitted if absence of extension of microcalcification was confirmed in women younger than 50 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Penston J. Should we use total mortality rather than cancer specific mortality to judge cancer screening programmes? Yes. BMJ. 2011;13:343.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Marmot MG, Altman DG, Cameron DA, Dewar JA, Thompson SG, Wilcox M. The benefits and harms of breast cancer screening: an independent review. Br J Cancer. 2013;108:2205–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Scaranelo AM, Eiada R, Bukhanov K, Crystal P. Evaluation of breast amorphous calcifications by a computer-aided detection system in full-field digital mammography. Br J Radiol. 2012: 85517-22.

  4. Masroor I, Afzal S, Shafqat G, Rehman H. Usefulness of hook wire localization biopsy under imaging guidance for nonpalpable breast lesions detected radiologically. Int J Womens Health. 2012;4:445–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Kouskos E, Gui GP, Mantas D, Revenas K, Rallis N, Antonopoulou Z, et al. Wire localisation biopsy of non-palpable breast lesions: reasons for unsuccessful excision. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2006;27:262–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Berg WA, Blume JD, Cormack JB, Mendelson EB, Lehrer D, Böhm-Vélez M, et al. Combined screening with ultrasound and mammography vs mammography alone in women at elevated risk of breast cancer. JAMA. 2008;299:2151–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Saslow D, Boetes C, Burke W, Harms S, Leach MO, Lehman CD, et al. American Cancer Society guidelines for breast screening with MRI as an adjunct to mammography. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007;57:75–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ciatto S, Rosselli Del Turco M, Burke P, Visioli C, Paci E, Zappa M. Comparison of standard and double reading and computer-aided detection (CAD) of interval cancers at prior negative screening mammograms: blind review. Br J Cancer. 2003;89:1645–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Bent CK, Bassett LW, D’Orsi CJ, Sayre JW. The positive predictive value of BI-RADS microcalcification descriptors and final assessment categories. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010;194:1378–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Uematsu T, Kasami M, Yuen S. Usefulness and limitations of the Japan Mammography Guidelines for the categorization of microcalcifications. Breast Cancer. 2008;15:291–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Shin HJ, Kim HH, Ko MS, Kim HJ, Moon JH, Son BH, et al. BI-RADS descriptors for mammographically detected microcalcifications verified by histopathology after needle-localized open breast biopsy. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010;195:1466–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Birdwell RL, Ikeda DM, O’Shaughnessy KF, Sickles EA. Mammographic characteristics of 115 missed cancers later detected with screening mammography and the potential utility of computer-aided detection. Radiology. 2001;219:192–202.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Pijnappel RM, Peeters PH, Hendriks JH, Mali WP. Reproducibility of mammographic classifications for non-palpable suspect lesions with microcalcifications. Br J Radiol. 2004;77:312–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ko BS, Noh WC, Kang SS, Park BW, Kang EY, Paik NS, et al. Changing patterns in the clinical characteristics of korean breast cancer from 1996–2010 using an online nationwide breast cancer database. J Breast Cancer. 2012;15:393–400.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Venturini E, Losio C, Panizza P, Rodighiero MG, Fedele I, Tacchini S, et al. Tailored breast cancer screening program with microdose mammography, US, and MR Imaging: short-term results of a pilot study in 40–49-year-old women. Radiology. 2013;268:347–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Chae EY, Kim HH, Cha JH, Shin HJ, Kim H. Evaluation of screening whole-breast sonography as a supplemental tool in conjunction with mammography in women with dense breasts. J Ultrasound Med. 2013;32:1573–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Nothacker M, Duda V, Hahn M, Warm M, Degenhardt F, Madjar H, et al. Early detection of breast cancer: benefits and risks of supplemental breast ultrasound in asymptomatic women with mammographically dense breast tissue. Syst Rev BMC Cancer. 2009;9:335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Boyd NF, Guo H, Martin LJ, Sun L, Stone J, Fishell E, et al. Mammographic density and the risk and detection of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:227–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kettritz U, Morack G, Decker T. Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsies in 500 women with microcalcifications: radiological and pathological correlations. Eur J Radiol. 2005;55:270–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21 Namdong-daero 774-beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, 405-760, Korea

    Kwan Il Kim, Kyung Hee Lee, Tae Ryung Kim, Yong Soon Chun, Tae Hoon Lee & Heung Kyu Park

  2. Department of Radiology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea

    Hye Young Choi

Authors
  1. Kwan Il Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kyung Hee Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tae Ryung Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yong Soon Chun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tae Hoon Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hye Young Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Heung Kyu Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heung Kyu Park.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kim, K.I., Lee, K.H., Kim, T.R. et al. Changing patterns of microcalcification on screening mammography for prediction of breast cancer. Breast Cancer 23, 471–478 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-015-0589-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-015-0589-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation