J Breast Cancer.  2016 Mar;19(1):83-86. 10.4048/jbc.2016.19.1.83.

The Utility of MicroPureâ„¢ Ultrasound Technique in Assessing Grouped Microcalcifications without a Mass on Mammography

• Park AY
• Seo BK
• Cho KR
• Woo OH

• KMID: 2176325
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2016.19.1.83

Abstract

The term "grouped microcalcifications" refers to the smallest arrangement of a relatively few calcifications noted on mammography, and has a wide range of clinical associations. For the pathologic diagnosis of suspicious-looking grouped microcalcifications without an associated mass, a mammography-guided procedure should be considered, because visualization of microcalcifications by conventional ultrasound (US) is limited. A mammography-guided procedure requires radiation exposure, is associated with pain, and is more time-consuming to perform than an US-guided procedure. However, an innovative US technology called MicroPureâ„¢ (Toshiba Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan) imaging improves detection and visualization of microcalcifications. We demonstrate the early clinical experience with and utility of MicroPure US examination of 10 breast lesions involving grouped microcalcifications without a mass on mammography screening.

Keyword

Breast; Calcification; Diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Breast
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Imaging
Mammography*
Mass Screening
Ultrasonography*

Figure

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  Figure 1 A 49-year-old patient with fibrocystic change (Lesion No. 2). (A) Mammography shows grouped amorphous microcalcifications (arrows) in the right breast, assessed radiologically as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category 4A. (B) B-mode ultrasound image on the left side shows focal area of heterogeneous echoic parenchyma with about four internal echogenic dots (solid arrowheads) which are suggestive of microcalcifications. MicroPure™ image on the right side shows about 12 microcalcifications as more distinguishable white dots (blank arrowheads).

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