If calcifications are suspected to be in the skin, which projection is recommended to validate this theory?

When evaluating suspected calcifications in the skin, the tangent view, or tangential projection, is the most appropriate choice. This imaging technique specifically aims to visualize superficial structures, including skin and subcutaneous tissues, without interference from underlying breast tissue.

In mammography, the tangent view allows for a projection that places the area of interest directly in profile, which enhances the visibility of any calcifications located in or near the skin. This specialized projection is particularly valuable for distinguishing skin calcifications from those that may originate deeper within the breast tissue, thereby providing clearer diagnostic information.

The other projections, such as cranio-caudal (CC), lateromedial (LM), and mediolateral oblique (MLO), primarily focus on the overall breast architecture and are less effective for isolating superficial features like skin calcifications. While these views provide comprehensive breast imaging, they do not offer the specific targeting necessary to validate the presence of calcifications in the skin as effectively as the tangential projection does.