clustered microcalcifications

[cspatvi]

I would greatly appreaciate if anyone can give me  the answers to the following questions.

1. How common is it for  mammograms of women 50-70 years of age to reveal clustered microcalcification?

2. What percentage of biopsies for the above condition give a benign result?

3. When clustered microcalcification is revealed, is a biopsy ALWAYS recommended even if there is no change in the form of the clustered microcalcification over a period of years.

4. If a biopsy is performed and the result is benign is another biopsy recommended following the next mamogram (mammogram)?

[mamaboulet]

1. Common. Clustered microcalcifications are more cause for concern than random microcalcifications, which are also common.

2. In general, in the USA, about 20% of biopsies performed come back with confirmed malignancy. The BIRADS classification refines that somewhat, with BIRADS 3 being mostly benign (80% or better coming back benign), whereas the BIRADS 5 category having statistics somewhere in the range (quite variable in this category) of 60% to greater than 95% confirmed malignancy). Because biopsy is the only way to confirm the presence or absence of cancer, it is fairly standard procedure to recommend biopsy for BIRADS 4 and 5 and quite often 3.
3. Because CLUSTERED microcalcifications are more likely to be DCIS or stage 1 cancer, the common practice is to recommend biopsy.
4. Depends on the path report and original BIRADS classification. If there is a cluster and high BIRADS number the followup tends to be sooner and more focused. Ambiguity often means watchful waiting. Great term.

[cspatvi]

Thank you so much for your well informed reply. cs