Microcalcifications of the breast: how does radiologic classification correlate with histology?

Abstract

The BI-RADS lexicon describes microcalcifications of the breast and provides diagnostic categories that lead to standardized biopsy recommendations. Nevertheless, how to link description to classification of microcalcifications is still a difficult diagnostic task. The evaluation of microcalcifications as proposed in this article may help to set standards in the clinical routine and in the comparability of scientific data.

Evaluation of an Automated Information Extraction Tool for Imaging Data Elements to Populate a Breast Cancer Screening Registry

“…Defining imaging findings for modalities beyond mammography (i.e., breast molecular imaging for focal asymmetry) [18]; analyzing findings present in relevant subgroups of patients with breast cancer (i.e., findings that are more frequently observed in younger women with breast cancer or women with missed breast cancer), and the potential of relating these specific imaging findings with molecular phenotypes of breast cancer further emphasize the need to extract specific findings from textual reports [19][20][21][22][23]. Moreover, these imaging findings may enhance BI-RADS assessment for classifying risk within classes (e.g., BI-RADS 3 with microcalcifications) [24], and for predicting histopathologic characteristics that portend poor survival [25,26].…”

Histological correlation of mammographically detected breast calcifications – A need for rational protocols

“…34 Radiologically, typical malignant calcification is described as fine pleomorphic or fine linear/branching in the BI-RADS terminology. 35 Ductal calcifications associated with cancer usually range in size from 100 to 300 mm 16,36 and are more easily detectable histologically ( Figure 8). In most of the series studied, false-negative rates for core biopsies sampled for suspicious calcification are low.…”

Size-adapted microcalcification segmentation in mammography utilizing scale-space signatures

“…Morphology analysis is important for the diagnosis of microcalcifications, as a means of quantifying size and shape properties of individual microcalcifications within a cluster, according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon [1]. A number of authors have investigated a wide range of individual microcalcification morphology and intensity properties in the framework of computer-aided diagnosis schemes (CADx) [2][3][4].…”