Predicting invasion in mammographically detected microcalcifcation: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND: With the increased use of mammography for breast cancer screening, the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) too has increased. This study was carried out to identify clinical and radiological factors that may predict the presence of invasive disease within mammographically detected microcalcifcation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 13 vacuum-assisted breast biopsies (Mammotome(®)) of mammographic calcification, which were reported to be either DCIS or invasive disease on final histopathology, was carried out. Final surgical pathology was correlated with pre-operative features (clinical, radiological and core histology) to predict the presence of an invasive component. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity of Mammotome(® )was 81.8%, while for invasion it was 50%. Small size, granular morphology, increased number and area of calcification cluster may help in predicting invasion on mammography. CONCLUSIONS: Mammotome(® )biopsy fails to detect invasion correctly in half the cases despite ascertaining correctness of biopsy with post biopsy x-ray.