To define the role of special mammographic views in evaluating palpable breast masses, 70 consecutive women with palpable breast masses underwent standard two-view examination of each breast and spot compression-magnification and tangential view examination of the palpable mass. Thirty palpable masses were found in 30 patients (43%). Standard views depicted 26 masses (87%). Tangential views also depicted 26 masses. Some of the masses seen on tangential views were not seen on standard views and vice versa. Spot compression-magnification views depicted 29 masses (97%). Special views thus depicted an additional 9% of palpable masses not seen on standard views (four of 44 cases). All lesions not seen on tangential views were central; the one lesion not seen on spot compression-magnification views was peripheral. Special views allowed correct prediction of benign or malignant status in 77% of cases (23 of 30), while standard views allowed correct prediction in 69% of cases (18 of 26).