Mammographic prognostic indicators in small tumours

A study of 343 women with preoperative mammography showing small invasive tumours were classified according to the following radiographic features:

• spiculated tumour with no calcification
• oval tumour with no calcifications
• any tumour with non-casting-type calcifications
• any tumour with casting-type calcifications

Follow up showed that mortality in patients with small invasive breast tumours which showed casting-type calcifications was much higher than for other groups:

• the 14% of women with tumours 1-9 mm diameter and casting-type calcification accounted for 74% of cancer deaths
• the long-term survival of patients with tumours 1-9 mm diameter and no casting-type calcification was 95%

The conclusion is that small tumours with casting-type calcification should be considered as larger tumours when planning treatment of the cancer.

Reference

1. Tabar, L. et al. (2000). A novel method for prediction of long-term outcome of women with T1a, T1b and 10-14 mm invasive breast cancer: a prospective study. Lancet, 355, 429-33.