[Comparison between the mammographic extent of microcalcifications and the virtual extent of breast carcinoma, and observation of changes in mammographic features with time].

In 26 nonpalpable breast carcinoma cases showing microcalcifications not accompanied by any associated mass on mammograms, the maximum diameter of the area of microcalcifications was measured and then compared with the histological extent of carcinoma. The extent of carcinoma was larger than the diameter of the area of microcalcifications in 14 cases (53.8%) and almost equal in five cases. When the maximum diameter of the area of microcalcifications was less than 2.5cm, carcinoma extended no more than 1.5cm beyond the diameter of the microcalcifications. Employing 24 cases subjected to excision biopsy, the extent of carcinoma was compared with the diameter of the area of microcalcifications on sectioned material containing microcalcifications, and it was found that carcinoma tended to extend further than the extent of calcifications (62.5%). Mammographic microcalcifications obtained from 37 breast cancer cases not accompanied by any associated mass were analyzed in contrast to their previous survey films. Twelve cases were found to have shown several extremely faint calcifications on the previous survey films. Follow-up study that focused on such faint calcifications had been performed in 43 cases from 1990 to 1992, resulting in the successful detection of four cases of breast cancer.