Abstract

The use of mammography and complimentary ultrasound has resulted in 73 breast biopsies after needle localization for nonpalpable breast abnormalities in a 5 year period. Mammography has been used in 53 cases, and ultrasound in 20 as a guide to the localization. A total of 21 malignant lesions (29%) were found. 11 of cases (52%) were in situ and 10 (48%) were invasive cancers. Mammographic findings which led to the prebiopsy localization were microcalcifications, mass lesion or asymetric density. The positive biopsy rate was high for spicular and irregular masses, and strongly suspicious calcifications. No cancer were found among well-defined masses or asymetric densities. In conclusion, breast imaging provides an advantage to detect and localize early malignancies in nonpalpable stages.