Mammographic findings in microcalcifications associated with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Objective. To evaluate the mammographic findings in microcalcifications associated with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Material and methods. From January 2000 to May 2005, a total of 99 breast cancer patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ten patients had microcalcifications on mammograms prior to treatment. We evaluated the evolution of the tumor and of the microcalcifications, correlating the imaging findings with the clinical and histological manifestations. Results. Four different patterns of evolution were observed for the microcalcifications: the number of particles increased in two cases, remained stable in three, decreased in four, and in one patient the microcalcifications disappeared. The size of the tumor decreased in all cases. Conclusions. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy microcalcifications can evolve unpredictably and independently of tumor response.