Refining Features of Large Rod-Like Calcifications -- Reassessing a Reliably Benign Entity

Background: Large rod-like calcifications of the breast as seen on mammography have been termed "secretory" calcifications and are considered to be benign based on BI-RADS lexicon characteristics. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and morphology of benign rod-like calcifications in the breast and to compare those characteristics with current BI-RADS descriptors. Methods: Over a 1-year period, patients with rod-like calcifications in a linear and ductal distribution were prospectively identified. If the patients had at least 6 calcific particles and there had been no significant interval change in morphology or distribution of calcifications over at least 2 years, the images were included in the analysis. For each case, the calcific particle with the greatest width and the calcific particle with the greatest length were identified and measured. The total number of calcific particles was recorded along with the patient's age and mammographic breast density. These metrics were compa more...