Stereotactic, 11-gauge, directional, vacuum-assisted biopsy resulted in successful calcification retrieval in 106 (95%) of 112 cases. Histologic underestimation was infrequent.

Case records were reviewed of 201 patients that developed active tuberculosis (TB) complicating neoplastic disease at Memorial Hospital between 1950‐1971. TB occurred in 44 patients with lung cancer, 45 with head and neck cancers, 28 with breast cancer, 29 with lymphoproliferative disorders, 20 with gynecologic cancers, 7 with leukemia, 9 with, stomach cancer, and 19 with other neoplasms. Patients with lung cancer, reticulum cell sarcoma, lymphosarcoma, and Hodgkin's disease had a TB prevalence of 92, 78, 88, and 96 cases per 10,000 patients, respectively, with each neoplasm. Patients with head and neck, stomach cancer, and acute lymphatic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia had a prevalence of 51, 55, 37, and 28 per 10,000 patients at risk, respectively. The prevalence in breast cancer, colon, and genitourinary cancer was 5 to 20 per 10,000. TB generally occurred when the neoplasm first developed in patients with lung and head and neck cancers, and after antineoplastic therapy for advancing disease in lymphoproliferative disorders and breast cancer. TB occurring after antineoplastic therapy caused more severe TB infection with a high mortality rate. Patients treated with adrenocorticosteroids also had more severe tuberculous infection. TB caused masses and adenopathy plus fatal pneumonias and disseminated infection. Over‐all mortality due to TB was 17%, compared with 48% in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Early diagnosis and treatment of TB is stressed.

No abstract

The likelihood of not diagnosing carcinoma was highest for calcifications and for noncomedo DCIS. Discordance in mammographic and histopathologic findings or the presence of atypical hyperplasia may enable the radiologist to identify missed or underestimated carcinomas prospectively and avoid a delay in diagnosis.

A localizing clip can be placed in proximity to the stereotactic biopsy site through an 11-gauge probe. Clip placement can enable accurate localization for surgical excision.

No abstract

Specimen radiography should be routinely performed in stereotaxic core biopsies of breast microcalcifications to ensure appropriate tissue has been obtained and to direct pathologic diagnosis of the tissue specimens.

Stereotaxic core biopsy of breast carcinoma can help confirm invasion with high accuracy but cannot reliably indicate the absence of tumor invasion when only DCIS is found.