ABSTRACT
Microcalcification in breast carcinomas were studied histologically and histochemically in 332 prospectively collected mastectomy consecutive specimens, without previous roentgenographic examination. Microcalcifications were found in 41% of breast carcinomas. The incidence was higher in comedo-carcinomas, duct carcinomas nonotherwise specified (N. O. S.) and papillary carcinomas. In situ and infiltrative lobular carcinomas did not show any microcalcification. Histochemically, calcium was shown to be deposited in compound lipids. The morphology and localization of microcalcifications was similar to those described in fibrocystic disease. This should be ascribed to similar structural and cellular conditions in both diseases.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Calcinosis/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Calcinosis/metabolism , Calcium/metabolism , Carcinoma in Situ/pathology , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology , Female , Fibrocystic Breast Disease/pathology , Histocytochemistry , Humans , Lipid MetabolismABSTRACT
A hundred cases of fibroadenomas and 300 cases of benign breast diseases were studied without previous roentgenographic examination of the specimens. Microcalcifications were found in 19% of the fibroadenomas, in 26% of the cases of "fibrous disease" and in 57% of the cases of fibrocystic disease. Benign microcalcifications were not found in normal mammary tissue. They were steadily associated with metaplastic epithelial cells and with their abnormal secretions. Two basic types of microcalcifications were encountered: The granular microcalcifications with a predominately intracellular location and the homogeneous (with or without concentric rings) mainly associated with secreted materials. Microcalcifications were associated with metaplastic epithelial cells of the small eosinophilic variety and with their secretions, with the foam cells and with materials secreted by the apocrine cells. A common histochemical feature in cells or matrixes containing microcalcifications was the presence of compound lipids. The possible relationship of benign breast microcalcifications to the calcifications of other tissues, in connection with their association with lipids is discussed.
