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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile some calcifications may indicate breast cancer, there are many noncancerous (benign) conditions in the breast that can cause calcifications to form. Causes of breast calcifications include:
- Breast cysts
- Cell secretions or debris
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Fibroadenoma
- Mammary duct ectasia
- Mastitis
- Previous injury to the breast
- Previous radiation therapy for cancer
- Skin (dermal) or blood vessel (vascular) calcification
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
- Abeloff MD, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/205294782-4/0/1709/129.html?tocnode=55018564&fromURL=129.html. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- What mammograms show. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/mammograms/mamm_show.jsp. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Non-cancerous breast conditions. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6X_Non_Cancerous_Breast_Conditions_59.asp. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Esserman LJ, et al. Diagnostic evaluation of women with suspected breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- James JJ, et al. The breast. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/205662793-2/0/1611/56.html?tocnode=54446922&fromURL=56.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50055-5_2885. Accessed June 14, 2010.
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