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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Risk of tightly clustered microcalfications being cancer
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Risk of tightly clustered microcalfications being cancer
by hatlady, May 26, 2002 12:00AM
I had a needle biopy of an area of "tightly clustered microcalcifications" that are very near my chest wall. I have regular mammograms and this was not present on my last one. I will get the results on Tues. or Weds. next week, but I am trying to mentally prepare myself.
I general terms, are there any statistics as to percentage of this type of "tightly clustered" calcifications being malignant? I have read that in general 80% of all biopsied are benign, but I assume that includes things like cyst aspirations, etc. I've had to benign cysts biopsied over the last ten years in the other breast which also showed some calcifications closer to the nipple which were not considered for biopsy.
Thanks
I general terms, are there any statistics as to percentage of this type of "tightly clustered" calcifications being malignant? I have read that in general 80% of all biopsied are benign, but I assume that includes things like cyst aspirations, etc. I've had to benign cysts biopsied over the last ten years in the other breast which also showed some calcifications closer to the nipple which were not considered for biopsy.
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, May 28, 2002 12:00AM
Dear hatlady: It is true that roughly 80% of biopsies are benign. This includes all biopsies but not cyst aspirations. Sometimes calcifications "cluster" around areas of concern. This is why a biopsy is recommended. It does not mean it is positive, just that it needs to be properly investigated. Scattered calcifications are normal and expected.
