The incidence and significance of intracytoplasmic calcifications in nipple aspirate specimens.

Intracytoplasmic deposits demonstrated to be calcifications have been identified in nipple aspirates from 3.6 per cent of breasts with satisfactory cytology. The deposits occurred almost exclusively in epithelial groups, and their structure ranged from dust-like particles and spiculated forms to psammoma bodies; all exhibited characteristic density, refractility and well-defined, irregular borders. Nipple aspirates containing calcifications were typically characterized by the presence of numerous epithelial groups, frequently of papillary type. This association was supported histologically by the fact that 11 of the 14 available tissue specimens contained papillary lesions in the duct system, including three with papillary carcinoma in situ. Cytologic abnormality was significantly associated with the presence of calcifications, and marked cellular changes were found four times as often in this group as in the total population with satisfactory cytology. Calcific deposits were found in six of the fourteen available tissue specimens, four of which contained breast carcinoma. Calcifications were noted in only 23 per cent of 97 available mammograms, but further investigation has revealed other significant radiologic findings. Cytologic calcifications were found most frequently in aspirates from women between the ages of 41 and 60 and were often associated with clinical findings of breast disease. Preliminary findings indicate an increased prevalence of breast carcinoma in patients with cytologic calcifications and suggest that such patients may require closer than normal follow-up.