Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: We describe the mammographic appearance of axillary lymph node calcification in three patients with metastatic ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Axillary lymph node calcification may be identified mammographically in patients with metastatic ovarian carcinoma and may be evidence of unsuspected metastatic disease. The pattern of calcification differs from that seen with metastatic breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Stereotaxic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (SFNA) of mammographically detected nonpalpable lesions of the breast provides accurate diagnosis and may eliminate many unnecessary excisional biopsies of areas of microcalcification. METHODS: SFNA of microcalcification of indeterminate radiologic significance was performed on 125 patients (1991-1994), yielding 130 specimens (2 sites in 2 patients and bilateral aspirations in 3 patients). Stereotaxic localization was performed, and samples from within the area of microcalcification were obtained using 22-gauge needles. Smears stained with a Giemsa-type stain were prepared and studied by a cytopathologist during the procedure to determine the adequacy of each specimen. RESULTS: Of 130 specimens, 104 (80%) were cytologically benign, 13 (10%) were atypical, 6 (4.6%) were suspicious, and 7 (5.3%) were malignant. All malignant diagnoses were confirmed by subsequent operative biopsy. Follow-up was available in 74 of 104 benign cases (71%): surgical excisions (all benign) in 8 cases and follow-up mammograms at 6 months to 5.8 years in 66 cases (no radiologic change in 64 cases and 2 [1.9%] cases with new radiologic findings [SFNAs of the new radiographic abnormality revealed adenocarcinoma in both]). CONCLUSIONS: SFNA is a reliable and cost-effective method of evaluating indeterminate microcalcification; however, mammographic follow-up is indicated because of the possibility of subsequent and independent cancers