LOCALIZATION OF NONPALPABLE LESIONS BY MEANS OF MAMMOGRAPHY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREOPERATIVE MARKING AND TISSUE REMOVAL

Mammography screening can increase survival by 15-50%. Minute nonpalpa ble breast carcinomas can be detected and surgically removed using pre cise localization techniques. Various techniques are shown, including localization by means of grid mammography and conventional localizatio n with several needles. Stereotactic localization is recommended if th e focus cannot be detected by sonography - a procedure now almost alwa ys possible if mammography units have the necessary additional equipme nt. In future it will often become necessary, following a good respons e to pre-operative chemotherapy, for the tumor, which as a result has become nonpalpable, to be marked prior to surgery (e. g. remaining mic rocalcifications). This is essential if a representative area of tissu e is to be made available for histological examination.