Relation between Lightscanning and the Histologic and Mammographic Appearance of Malignant Breast Tumors

Abstract

The relation between real-time transillumination (lightscanning) and the histologie appearance of 243 breast carcinomas was eval uated. Lightscanning mainly failed in identifying ductal and lobular carcinomas in situ. The result of lightscanning was also poor re garding small, invasive carcinomas. The absorption patterns in elastosis and scar tissue associated with carcinoma played no important role in the ability of lightscanning to identify a cancer. The relation between the lightscanning and mammographie appearance of 85 breast cancers from the same material was also evaluated. Lightscanning performed poorly in identifying tumors characterized by calcifications as compared to tumors with other mammographie appearances. However, the difference was not significant.