What percent of clustered microcalcifications are cancerous?

The rate of malignancy was 40.0% (543 of 1357) for cases with a single cluster of microcalcifications, 50% (112 of 224) for those with multiple clusters and 60.0% (303 of 505) for those with dispersed microcalcifications.

Can clustered microcalcifications be benign?

Although breast calcifications are usually noncancerous (benign), certain patterns of calcifications — such as tight clusters with irregular shapes and fine appearance — may indicate breast cancer or precancerous changes to breast tissue.

How many microcalcifications are considered a cluster?

Some radiologists consider five or more calcifications in a cluster to be possibly suspicious of an underlying cancer. However, this is not a definite cutoff number — others recommend additional testing even if there are fewer than five in a cluster.

What is a cluster of microcalcifications in the breast?

Breast calcifications are clusters of calcium that develop in the breast. Usually painless, they are found on routine mammograms. This condition is more common in women over age 50. Calcifications can be a sign that a woman is at risk for developing breast cancer.

Are clustered microcalcifications always cancerous?

Microcalcifications are small calcium deposits that look like white specks on a mammogram. Microcalcifications are usually not a result of cancer. But if they appear in certain patterns and are clustered together, they may be a sign of precancerous cells or early breast cancer.

What are grouped calcifications?

Grouped (or clustered) calcifications, which are defined as at least five calcifications with- in 1 cm3 of tissue, are most often of interme- diate concern for malignancy of the breast. Linear calcifications, which suggest deposits in a duct, are suspicious for malignancy.

What are suspicious microcalcifications?

Calcifications that are irregular in size or shape or are tightly clustered together, are called suspicious calcifications. Your provider will recommend a stereotactic core biopsy. This is a needle biopsy that uses a type of mammogram machine to help find the calcifications.

What stage is high grade DCIS?

DCIS that is high grade, is nuclear grade 3, or has a high mitotic rate is more likely to come back (recur) after it is removed with surgery. DCIS that is low grade, is nuclear grade 1, or has a low mitotic rate is less likely to come back after surgery.

How often are grouped calcifications cancerous?

Liberman et al (4) reported malignancy in 36% of clustered calcifications (now referred to as “grouped”), 68% of linearly distributed calcifications, and 74% of those that were segmental.