Critical pathways in analyzing breast calcifications.

Screening-detected microcalcifications are responsible for more benign biopsy results than any other mammographic lesion. The management of these lesions comes at a large cost in terms of morbidity and dollars spent. Both costs and morbidity could be reduced by decreasing the number of surgical biopsies. This could be accomplished by increasing the positive biopsy rate and by substituting core needle biopsy for surgical biopsy when appropriate. To increase the positive biopsy rate, we need to improve the preoperative evaluation of microcalcifications. A scheme is presented for the mammographic evaluation of these microcalcifications and for the appropriate use of core biopsy in the management of these lesions.