Purpose: To evaluate the capabilities of breast ultrasound (US) for identifying microcalcifications in benign breast changes, in situ carcinomas, and small nonpalpable invasive carcinomas.
Material and methods: Forty-six consecutive patients with 49 clustered microcalcifications detected by mammography were included in this prospective study. Patients with palpable breast lesions were excluded. Breast US was performed with knowledge of mammographic findings for presence and visibility of microcalcifications, and for parenchymal structure abnormalities. Mammographic and US findings were compared with histology.
Results: Nine ductal in situ carcinomas, 2 lobular in situ carcinomas, 11 invasive carcinomas and 27 benign lesions were confirmed by histology. For all lesions, US achieved a sensitivity of 75% in the detection of microcalcifications. The detection rate for microcalcification in invasive and in situ carcinomas was 100%. In 11 cases, no microcalcifications were visible on US; they all proved to be benign on histology.
Conclusion: Microcalcifications in malignant lesions are reliably recognized by US. They are, however, difficult to detect in fibrocystic breast changes.