J Breast Cancer.  2016 Dec;19(4):459-464. 10.4048/jbc.2016.19.4.459.

Increased Malignant Microcalcifications after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Breast Cancer

• Shin GW
• Park YM
• Yoon HK
• Jung SJ
• Kim TH
• Lee A
• Lee SM

• KMID: 2362934
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2016.19.4.459

Abstract

In patients with advanced breast cancer, most new calcifications detected on a mammogram after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are benign dystrophic calcifications, but this is not always observed. We present a patient with advanced breast cancer who had paradoxically increased malignant microcalcifications concomitant with primary tumor regression after undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the follow-up mammogram revealed that local, fine pleomorphic microcalcifications had markedly increased. Pathologically, these calcifications were ductal carcinoma in situ. We concluded that, in patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, newly developed microcalcifications on follow-up mammograms should be carefully evaluated, and any suspicious malignant microcalcifications should be included in surgical excision planning.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Calcinosis; Mammography; Neoadjuvant therapy

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Calcinosis
Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating
Drug Therapy*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Mammography
Neoadjuvant Therapy