Can a mammography examination of the breasts tell whether the breasts are malignant?

Zhongke Airui Health Reminder:

Breast calcification is divided into benign calcification and malignant calcification according to its shape, size and degree of aggregation. The mammography report sheet will explain the BI of calcification. -RADS classification, grades 1 to 3 are all benign, while grades 4 and above may be malignant.

Benign breast calcification

Distribution characteristics: coarser particles, less number, higher density, and relatively limited distribution.

Calcification forms: sandstone type, fusion type, arc type, orbital type, round hole type, etc.

Calcification of breast hyperplasia lesions often manifests as sandstone type calcification, and the distribution of calcification is relatively scattered.

The distribution of calcification in breast cysts is mainly arc-shaped.

The calcification pattern of breast arteries in the elderly is distributed in orbital pattern.

The cell pus and fat debris in secretory diseases and the calcification of sebaceous glands are distributed in isolated and large circular calcifications.

Fibroadenomas are mainly distributed with fused calcifications, accompanied by fused calcifications of different shapes such as spot-like, coral-like or mass-like, and are mostly distributed in a localized pattern.

However, it should be noted that the calcification of some benign lesions is very similar to malignant breast calcification and is difficult to distinguish, and must be identified through needle biopsy. For example, in a small number of breast hyperplasia, the calcification of mastitis is diffuse silt-like or refined salt-like calcification, which is very similar to the distribution of malignant breast tumors.

Malignant breast calcification

Distribution characteristics: finer particles, larger number, lower density, and relatively wider distribution.

Calcification forms: stick type, refined salt type calcification.

The common type of calcification in breast cancer is club-type calcification. This type of calcification is more common in invasive ductal breast cancer. The calcification is distributed along the inner diameter of the breast duct.

Most medical researchers believe that club-like calcifications, regardless of size, number, density, height, spatial distribution, or whether they are combined with masses, are extremely important symptoms of breast cancer.

However, the situation of refined salt type calcification is somewhat special. It is not only a calcification manifestation of breast cancer, but also often appears in benign breast diseases. Therefore, once refined salt type calcification occurs, caution should be used to identify the nature of the disease.

Mammography is the simplest, reproducible and relatively less painful examination method, and has become a routine examination method for clinical breast cancer. Mammography can clearly display all layers of breast tissue, especially its calcification, which has obvious diagnostic significance. Microcalcifications and calcification masses of 1 mm or smaller can be observed. Clinically, small, granular, and clustered calcification points can be seen. , is an early manifestation of breast cancer, about 80% specific. Imaging examinations are only used as the basis for clinical diagnosis, and will ultimately be determined through pathological examination.