EVALUATION ABNORMAL SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS

The purpose of routine screening mammography is to detect unsuspected cancer that has the potential to be cured. Abnormalities detected on t he screening examination often necessitate additional radiologic worku p before a definitive result or diagnosis can be given. This workup (d iagnostic mammography) may include specialized views, such as spot com pression to evaluate the margins of a nodule, or magnification views t o determine the features of microcalcifications. Additional evaluation with mammographic views, breast ultrasound, and, at times, interventi onal procedures such as fine needle aspiration or core biopsy are perf ormed to complete the radiologic evaluation of a patient with an abnor mal mammogram. Signs of malignancy include nodules (most often poorly defined), microcalcifications, and, less commonly, areas of architectu ral distortion, asymmetry, of focal ductal dilatation. A comprehensive approach to breast imaging will help to potentiate the early detectio n of subtle malignancies and avoid the performance of some biopsies fo r benign lesions.