Lehrer D, Kaplan M, Ugalde C, Señuk V, Mosto J. Pseudocalcifications: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation of Postsurgical Gauze Artifacts.
JOURNAL OF BREAST IMAGING 2024:wbae018. [PMID:
38733330 DOI:
10.1093/jbi/wbae018]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Artifacts and foreign bodies can mimic microcalcifications. We report a series of 17 postsurgical women in whom mammograms showed fine linear radiodensities at the surgical bed. Vacuum-assisted biopsy histopathology of one of the lesions showed foreign bodies of different sizes with macrophage reaction. After discussion with the surgeons, we ascertained that a particular type of gauze was used that had fragmented, and we reproduced the mammographic appearance in a chicken breast. Furthermore, we showed the same pathology was reproduced in mice implanted with the gauze threads. It is important to be aware of this entity to avoid unnecessary examinations and even biopsy. The presence of foreign body linear gauze fragments at the surgical site can pose challenges in the mammographic follow-up of these patients.
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