[Direct radiographic enlargement in mammography in everyday practice. Indications and limitations].

One thousand mammograms of non-preselected patients were reviewed in order to assess in how many and which cases an equivocal diagnosis can be made unquestionable and to test the value of follow-up exams with direct radiographic magnification. Direct radiographic magnification was used in all questionable cases (3%): 18 lesions were characterized by microcalcifications and 12 by nodules. Four cases were diagnosed as unquestionable (13%)-1 microcalcification and 3 nodules-while 13 patients were reexamined with mammography only. Even though the percentage variation from equivocal to unquestionable diagnoses is modest but significant, direct radiographic magnification is always useful in the follow-up.