Location of calcifications/DCIS probability?

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momzr
momzr Member Posts: 111
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Just wondering if anyone knows if the location of calcifications in your breast makes the probability of DCIS diagnosis more likely?  The ones I am having a surgical biopsy on are located in the "slightly superioror sub areola region of left breast".  Surgeon says calcs are only cancerous 15% of the time, but I had an incidence of DCIS three summers ago, so that percent would be higher for me.  Seems to me that sub areola (behind nipple) WOULD be where lots of ducts are located??

I found a statistic three years ago in researching things that said breast cancer most commonly occurs in Upper outer quadrant 50% of time, Around nipple 18%, Upper inner quadrant 15%, Outer lower quadrant 11%, and Inner lower quadrant 6%.

Just wondered, though, if anyone diagnosed from calcs/microcalc's could share where theirs had been located.  Three years ago when I had tiny area of DCIS removed (1.6 mm) it was in the left breast also and "lateral mid aspect of breast" . 

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  • AgathaFran
    AgathaFran Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2011

    Hi momzr, I am so sorry that you are once again dealing with microcalcs in your left breast.

    (I will describe their position using a clock face.) I had three areas of microcalcs in my right breast at 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock and a futher area which was deeper and behind the 10 o'clock area. I had a core biopsy on one area only which came back low grade DCIS. My radiologist said that as all the areas showed similar calc patterns whatever was in one area would be the same in the others. (I will soon know the answer to that one, when my final path results come back next week)

    From the little I know on microcalcs I believe that patterns and clusters hold more significance than position. Unfortunately there is only one way to find out for sure and that is wait for the biopsy results. Here's hoping that this new area of microcalcs will be B9. x

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  • Anne888
    Anne888 Member Posts: 58
    edited July 2011

    I've had scattered microcalcifications in both breasts since my first mammo at age 40.  When I had my annual mammo at 51 there was a cluster under the nipple/areola of one breast that was flagged as probable DCIS.  The stereotactic biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, and I had a single mastectomy.  The calcs in my remaining breast are still, thankfully, scattered.  My understanding is that it is the PATTERN of the calcs, not the location, that is important.

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  • momzr
    momzr Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2011

    I also have heard the shape/pattern is more significant.  Three years ago mine were identified as a "cluster".  This year THIS mammogram report reads a 'grouping' of calcifications.  I don't know if that is the very same thing as a "cluster" because radiologist had me in his room where he reads/examines the films and was showing me three years ago (which did make 5-6 clacs look sort of close together and more of a circular cluster in shape) and this time while the 9-10 calcifications are in the same 'area' together they are somewhat more spread apart than the ones three years ago (which DID turn out to be DCIS).  Just thinking and wondering out loud I guess.

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  • Emaline
    Emaline Member Posts: 492
    edited July 2011

    Figures. I'm in the 6%

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited July 2011

    Mine spanned from outer quadrant to 6 o'clock position -- so oddly enough, the two lowest percentiles, 6 to 11%. To quote previous poster, Emaline; "Figures."

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    I have always read it is the size and pattern (not the location) that is  important.  Calcifications that are large and spread out are more likely benign; while small and clustered are more likely suspicious for malignancy.

    anne 

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  • momzr
    momzr Member Posts: 111
    edited July 2011

    Yes, I too, have heard size of them makes difference.  The ones I am having removed only span a distance of about 8-9 mm (not even half an inch), so a pretty small area, but I am pretty small in the bustline anyhow (not even an A cup).  The nurse practitioner who I met with as well also shared with me there are three 'classifications' of microcalc's.  Benign (of course nothing to worry about), Indeterminite (which is what mine are classified as), and Pleomorphic (more ofen times a definite problem).  Three years ago the ones I had removed which did turn out to be that 1.6 mm of DCIS were classified as 'mildly pleomorphic' in appearance.  This years description on radiologist report who read mammogram calls them a 'grouping of indeterminite calcifications'.  I have biopsy scheduled for 7/22, but that's plenty of time for me to wait and worry :(

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  • DeeLJ
    DeeLJ Member Posts: 182
    edited July 2011

    Four O'clock position of right breast...Add me to the 6% club.

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