Difference between revisions of "Breast calcifications"
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*Radiologists can pick-up calcifications that are approximately 100 micrometers; if "calcs" is on the requisition one needs to find calcs this size.<ref>MUA. 1 October 2010.</ref> | *Radiologists can pick-up calcifications that are approximately 100 micrometers; if "calcs" is on the requisition one needs to find calcs this size.<ref>MUA. 1 October 2010.</ref> | ||
**The large calcs seen on radiology are approximately 1/5 - 1/6 the size of a HPF, if the field of view (FOV) is ~0.55 mm (as is the case with 22 mm-10x eye pieces and a 40x objective). | **The large calcs seen on radiology are approximately 1/5 - 1/6 the size of a HPF, if the field of view (FOV) is ~0.55 mm (as is the case with 22 mm-10x eye pieces and a 40x objective). | ||
Types: | |||
*Calcium phosphate - typically purple. | |||
**Q. How to remember? A. '''P'''urple = '''P'''hosphate. | |||
*Calcium oxalate - not associated with malignancy.<ref name=pmid26769216>{{Cite journal | last1 = Sharma | first1 = T. | last2 = Radosevich | first2 = JA. | last3 = Pachori | first3 = G. | last4 = Mandal | first4 = CC. | title = A Molecular View of Pathological Microcalcification in Breast Cancer. | journal = J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia | volume = | issue = | pages = | month = Jan | year = 2016 | doi = 10.1007/s10911-015-9349-9 | PMID = 26769216 }}</ref> | |||
==Microscopic== | ==Microscopic== | ||
Features of calcification: | Features of calcification: | ||
*Purple globs (with concentric rings) on [[H&E stain|H&E]] - represent calcium phosphate. | *Purple globs (with concentric rings) on [[H&E stain|H&E]] - represent calcium phosphate. | ||
*Often in the lumen of a gland, may be in the stroma. | *Often in the lumen of a gland, may be in the stroma. | ||
*Calcific material typically has a well-demarcated border +/- "sharp corners". | *Calcific material typically has a well-demarcated border +/- "sharp corners". | ||
Note: | Note: | ||
*Calcium oxalate | *Calcium oxalate - visible with (light) polarization. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 16:14, 2 March 2016
Breast calcifications may be found in benign or malignant breast specimens.
General
- Abnormal breast calcifications are considered a marker of malignancy.
- Radiologists can pick-up calcifications that are approximately 100 micrometers; if "calcs" is on the requisition one needs to find calcs this size.[1]
- The large calcs seen on radiology are approximately 1/5 - 1/6 the size of a HPF, if the field of view (FOV) is ~0.55 mm (as is the case with 22 mm-10x eye pieces and a 40x objective).
Types:
- Calcium phosphate - typically purple.
- Q. How to remember? A. Purple = Phosphate.
- Calcium oxalate - not associated with malignancy.[2]
Microscopic
Features of calcification:
- Purple globs (with concentric rings) on H&E - represent calcium phosphate.
- Often in the lumen of a gland, may be in the stroma.
- Calcific material typically has a well-demarcated border +/- "sharp corners".
Note:
- Calcium oxalate - visible with (light) polarization.