Breast specimen radiography. Obligatory, adjuvant and investigative.

The development of mammography and that of breast specimen radiography, which have paralleled one another, are reviewed. The preparation of radiographs of breast specimens is obligatory when biopsy is performed for purely mammographic indications and when no palpable mass is present. Such cases are being encountered with increasing frequency because of the development of centers for breast cancer screening. Close collaboration among pathologists, radiologists and surgeons and precise attention to procedural detail are necessities wherever this situation arises. The application of specimen radiography as a routine to all breast specimens is regarded as an adjunct to gross examination. While useful, its yield of otherwise undetected occult carcinoma is low. Whether other advantages outweigh the cost appears to be a matter for individual decision. Investigative uses of breast specimen radiography have received little attention. Some possible applications are suggested.