PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy of segmental calcifications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-nine lesions with segmental calcifications after the exclusion of malignant calcifications of category 5 were evaluated. Calcifications were classified morphologically into small, round, and amorphous calcifications. Lesions in which small round and amorphous calcifications were mixed were classified into small round dominant and amorphous dominant calcifications. The density of distribution of calcifications, heterogeneity in size, and heterogeneity in density were also classified visually, and the correlations of these categories with the biopsy findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The calcifications were classified into 10 with small round calcifications (26%), 10 with small round calcifications dominant (26%), 12 with amorphous calcifications dominant (30%), and 7 with amorphous calcifications (18%). The pathological findings of biopsy specimens were benign in 27 lesions (69%), borderline in 1 (3%), and malignant in 11 (28%). Lesions with mixed calcifications in which amorphous calcifications were dominant were more often malignant. Lesions with calcifications showing a high distribution density and those with calcifications heterogeneous in density were more often malignant. CONCLUSION: Lesions with heterogeneous calcifications are frequently malignant, and biopsy should be considered.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy of segmental calcifications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-nine lesions with segmental calcifications after the exclusion of malignant calcifications of category 5 were evaluated. Calcifications were classified morphologically into small, round, and amorphous calcifications. Lesions in which small round and amorphous calcifications were mixed were classified into small round dominant and amorphous dominant calcifications. The density of distribution of calcifications, heterogeneity in size, and heterogeneity in density were also classified visually, and the correlations of these categories with the biopsy findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The calcifications were classified into 10 with small round calcifications (26%), 10 with small round calcifications dominant (26%), 12 with amorphous calcifications dominant (30%), and 7 with amorphous calcifications (18%). The pathological findings of biopsy specimens were benign in 27 lesions (69%), borderline in 1 (3%), and malignant in 11 (28%). Lesions with mixed calcifications in which amorphous calcifications were dominant were more often malignant. Lesions with calcifications showing a high distribution density and those with calcifications heterogeneous in density were more often malignant. CONCLUSION: Lesions with heterogeneous calcifications are frequently malignant, and biopsy should be considered.