Calcifications with suspicious morphology at mammography: should they all be considered with the same clinical significance?

ConclusionsAmorphous calcifications have lower reader-averaged PPVs compared to calcifications with other suspicious morphology, falling into the BI-RADS 4a assessment (PPV 2 –10%). Amorphous calcifications with diffuse distributions detected in women> 50 years old and without a personal history of breast cancer have reader-averaged PPVs< 2.0%. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm if these patients can be managed with imaging follow-up.Key Points•In two cohorts, reader-averaged positive predictive values (PPVs) for suspicious calcifications showed lower rates for amorphous calcifications.•In two separate cohorts, reader-averaged PPVs showed lower rates for diffuse amorphous calcifications, falling into the BI-RADS 4a assessment category (PPV 2 –10%).•Diffuse amorphous calcifications detected in women> 50 years old and without a personal history of breast cancer have reader-averaged PPVs< 2.0%.

http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00330-020-07215-8

Source: European Radiology - March 20, 2021 Category: Radiology Source Type: research