Published: Nov. 23, 2011 Updated: Nov. 23, 2011 Lisa Tolnitch,
MD, of Duke Cancer Institute answers questions about breast
cancer. Can calcifications in the breast turn into cancer?
Calcifications on mammography do not themselves turn into
cancer. They can be a marker especially in certain patterns of
an evolving cancer. Worrisome features are pleomorphic
calcifications (different sizes and shapes in a group),
branching forms (following the branches of a milk duct), or
casting calcifications. Those features usually require a biopsy
under mammogram guidance with a core needle. Mastectomy is an
option for surgical treatment. If a tumor is small, less than 4
centimeters, and does not have locally advanced features such as
skin involvement, a patient can have a lumpectomy with the same
survival as mastectomy. Most patients are equally good
candidates for both procedures. After a lumpectomy the breast
should look very similar to how it started in shape and size.
There can be some loss of contour or fullness where