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Mag views of microcalcifications

Case contributed by Garth Kruger
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Diagnostic workup of calcifications of the left breast

Patient Data

Age: Adult
Gender: Female
mammography

The convention mammogram cc view of the left breast.

mammography

The optical magnification view.

Case Discussion

Be clear in your own mind about the difference between optical magnification and digital magnification. Do not be tempted to confuse the two in breast imaging or risk getting burned. The mag view here is a good illustration of the point: see how much more you see in the optical mag view? There are more calcifications, they are better defined and you can actually see the suspicious configurations of DCIS. The trabecular distortion of the parenchyma hinted at on the mammogram is better seen on the mag view.

Personally, I do mag views of calcifications and do rolled cc and ML views for parenchymal asymmetries. Your additional views do not have to have exaggerated angles; a couple of degrees is often enough to spread the summation shadows that we see in mammography. 

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