42 - Advanced calcification analysis - 7AB

Advanced calcification analysis lectures

The cases in this collection remind us that complete surgical removal of the cancers originating from the major ducts is a considerable challenge and requires careful interpretation of the imaging findings, particularly the breast MRI images. In cases with cancers of ductal origin, the mammographically detectable, characteristic microcalcifications never outline the full extent of the malignancy. Preoperative needle localization guided only by the mammographically detectable calcifications will repeatedly lead to incomplete resection of the malignancy. These cases demonstrate the importance of combining information from the multimodality imaging methods for planning appropriate management.

These carefully chosen, fully worked-up cases cover the full spectrum of malignant-type calcifications seen at mammography. You will learn how to find faint and subtle calcifications and recognize malignancy by the distribution of the calcifications, even when the individual calcifications appear benign. Our multimodality diagnostic approach benefits from the strengths of magnification mammography, ultrasound and MRI. The imaging findings are correlated in every case with large format thin section (and often thick section) histopathology images to show the underlying structure of the malignancies we see at imaging. Every case has illustrated teaching points reviewing the major findings and commenting on the appropriateness of the management. These lectures improve your skills in perception and diagnosis and give you greater confidence when communicating your findings to your pathologists and surgeons.