Breast Calcifications

Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO
  • Screening mammography:
    • Is important in identifying breast cancer at an early stage
  • Calcifications have many forms:
    • The characteristics of the calcifications:
      • Help identify whether they are associated with a benign or malignant process
    • Smooth, round, large and layering calcium:
      • Are generally associated with benign findings
Round and punctate calcifications. Lobular. This group of calcifications is characterized by relatively monomorphic round and punctate calcifications having some variation in density. No linear forms or linear orientation is seen. BI-RADS 2: Benign finding
  • Fine, irregular, punctate, linear and branching, and pleomorphic calcifications:
    • Are characteristics generally associated with malignant findings
Fine Linear or Fine Linear Branching
These are thin, linear or curvilinear irregular calcifications.
They may be discontinuous.
Their appearance suggests filling of the lumen of a duct, i.e. ‘casting’ calcifications.
These calcifications are classified as Bi-RADS 4C.
On the left calcifications in a segmental distribution.
Some have a linear distribution and some have a branching morphology.
This is highly suggestive of malignancy (Bi-RADS 4C)
  • Magnification views of the calcifications are essential in helping to evaluate the calcifications to determine the appearance and to be able to accurately interpret the findings
  • References:
    • Brant W, Helms C. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology, 5th Edition. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2019
    • Baldwin P. Breast calcification imaging. Radiol Technol. 2013;84(4):383M-404M.
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Published by Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO

My name is Rodrigo Arrangoiz I am a breast surgeon/ thyroid surgeon / parathyroid surgeon / head and neck surgeon / surgical oncologist that works at Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology in Miami, Florida. I was trained as a surgeon at Michigan State University from (2005 to 2010) where I was a chief resident in 2010. My surgical oncology and head and neck training was performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2012. At the same time I underwent a masters in science (Clinical research for health professionals) at the University of Drexel. Through the International Federation of Head and Neck Societies / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center I performed a two year head and neck surgery and oncology / endocrine fellowship that ended in 2016. Mi nombre es Rodrigo Arrangoiz, soy cirujano oncólogo / cirujano de tumores de cabeza y cuello / cirujano endocrino que trabaja Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology en Miami, Florida. Fui entrenado como cirujano en Michigan State University (2005 a 2010 ) donde fui jefe de residentes en 2010. Mi formación en oncología quirúrgica y e n tumores de cabeza y cuello se realizó en el Fox Chase Cancer Center en Filadelfia de 2010 a 2012. Al mismo tiempo, me sometí a una maestría en ciencias (investigación clínica para profesionales de la salud) en la Universidad de Drexel. A través de la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Cabeza y Cuello / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center realicé una sub especialidad en cirugía de cabeza y cuello / cirugia endocrina de dos años que terminó en 2016.

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