Microcalcification

Microcalcifications are tiny deposits of calcium salts that are too small to be felt but can be detected by imaging.

Based on morphology, it is possible to classify by radiography how likely microcalcifications are to indicate cancer.

When consisting of calcium phosphate, they are usually dystrophic calcifications (occurring in degenerated or necrotic tissue).

[4] Calcium oxalate crystals in the breast may be seen on mammography and are usually benign, but can be associated with lobular carcinoma in situ.

[4] In contrast to an artifact of crowded cells, the DCIS calcification pictured above characteristically extends outside the focal plane, as the background DCIS is blurred in this focus.