Evaluation of Focal magnification View in the assessment of mammographic abnormalities inBreast Cancer Research Center

Focal Compression Magnification View (FCMV) is a complementary diagnostic modality in cases of equivocal mammographic lesions .The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement in mammographic specificity by these special views and to define the circumstances in which they were more beneficial.Materials and Methods: During a cross-sectional study, all patients for whom FCMV were requested at the imaging center of Breast Cancer Research Center, were included. Clinical, Imaging and histological data were extracted of their medical papers and follow up was performed. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 software.Results: Between March and February 2012, 5143 women were presented for mammography to this center,491 of them Conducted FCMV(9.55%). Mean age of patients was 47.6+8. The most frequent reasons for requesting FCMV was focal density( 74.6%) .Radiologist recommendation after reporting FCMV were : short follow up in 55.7% ,routine follow up in 24.4%, biopsy in 9% and dependent to MRI or ultrasound in 11% of patients. FCMV led to definite diagnosis in 34.4% and all others need another imaging .FCMV led to definite diagnosis in 28.7% of focal densities in comparison to 40.5% of microcalcifications (p=0.015).Conclusion: This study showed that although the most frequent indication for requesting FCMV was focal density in mammography, but this special view led to definite diagnosis in less than one third of patients. With respect to excess radiation, cost and anxiety related to additional views, FCMV should be requested in more appropriate situations such as microcalcification or mass lesions.

Keywords:

Mammography , Focal Compression Magnification View , Focal Density , Microcalcification