The detection and significance of calcifications in the breast: a radiological and pathological study

Abstract

The radiological detection of calcification is compared using xeroradiography, non-screen film and a film-screen combination. The "threshold" values of the smallest detectable size of calcification, under simulated clinical conditions, are found to be approximately 100 mum for xeroradiography and 400 mum for both the film techniques in this study. The incidence of calcification seen on the preoperative mammograms of patients with carcinoma of the breast is 48-5 per cent. Further calcification revealed by histological examination raises the overall incidence of calcification in mammary carcinomas to 63 per cent. The incidence on preoperative mammograms in benign breast disease is 20 per cent. The radiological features of calcification occurring in malignant and benign breast lesions are recorded, and no definitive distinguishing features are established. The histological appearance of calcification in malignant and benign breast disease is discussed.

Functional SNP in the microRNA-367 binding site in the 3′UTR of the calcium channel ryanodine receptor gene 3 ( RYR3 ) affects breast cancer risk and calcification

“…The increased risk associated with this genetic variant in postmenopausal women is consistent with the knowledge that estrogens are regulators of calcium influx (29) and that postmenopausal women absorb calcium less efficiently (30,31). It has been postulated that microcalcification is a result of abnormal calcium deposition and mineralization of necrotic debris (32,33). We found that the RYR3 G allele (GG + GA) genotypes were significantly associated with microcalcification in breast cancer tissues.…”

The relationship of mammographic microcalcification to histologic malignancy: radiologic-pathologic correlation

“…Breast cancer is one of the malignant neoplasms that can [2][3][4][5][6]. This phenomenon is not limited to lobular carcinoma in situ, where it has been well accepted that the calcium is often next to but not within the actual carcinoma [9,10].…”

Relationship Between Certain Radiographic and Biologic Characteristics in Breast Cancer

“…Although the origin of calcifications in mammary carcinomas is unclear, the suggested mineralization of cellular debris and degenerative tumor cells (19) could indicate a high tumor growth rate. The presence of microcalcifications is often the first recognizable mammographic sign of a developing malignancy.…”