Abstract
The surgical specimens from 400 consecutive breast biopsies performed at the Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, were radiographically examined, and the results were correlated with preoperative mammograms as well as clinical findings. Mammography was performed on 88.5% of the cases, and a total of 54 biopsies (13.5%) were performed because of suspicious radiographic microcalcifications without a palpable clinical mass. Specimen radiography was essential in these situations in order to document the adequacy of the biopsy and to localize the suspicious area for histologic examination. Fourteen (3.5%) clinically occult carcinomas were demonstrated in this manner. Seven of these were of microscopic size and most surely would have been missed had it not been for this procedure. Radiographic examination of the remaining 346 biopsy specimens yielded one additional microscopic occult carcinoma containing calcifications visible by specimen radiography but not mammographically. The application of this procedure in the pathology laboratory is discussed, and its essential relationship to preoperative mammography is stressed.
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