malignant microcalcifications

malignant microcalcifications

Aggregates of precipitated calcium salts, which by light microscopy appear as purplish crystalline debris. Microcalcifications appear on mammography as scattered or aggregated white dots, and are often (up to 20% of cases) associated with breast cancer.
Microcalcifications
▪ Type I—Occur in benign lesions of the breast; type-I MCs are birefringent, colourless, composed of calcium oxalate, and poorly visualised without polarisation. 
▪ Type II—Occur in benign and malignant lesions of the breast; type-II MCs appear as a deep purplish colour by light microscopy, and composed of calcium phosphate.