Breast calcifications

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When to see a doctor

By Mayo Clinic staff

The radiologist will recommend additional testing if the calcifications can't be seen well or their cause is unclear.

Your doctor will set up the appointment for the additional mammograms, which will likely include magnification views of the calcifications, or biopsy, if recommended by the radiologist. The radiologist may request any prior mammogram images to compare and determine if the calcifications are new or have changed in number or pattern.

The radiologist may recommend a six-month follow-up for another mammogram to see whether the breast calcifications have changed in appearance or whether they're stable or unchanged.

Causes
References
  1. What mammograms show: Calcifications, cysts, fibroadenomas. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/mammograms/mamm_show.jsp. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  2. Non-cancerous breast conditions. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6X_Non_Cancerous_Breast_Conditions_59.asp. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  3. Esserman LJ, et al. Diagnostic evaluation of women with suspected breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 29, 2013.
  4. Lai KC, et al. Linear breast calcifications. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2012;199:W151.
  5. Muttarak M, et al. Breast calcifications: Which are malignant? Singapore Medical Journal. 2009;50:907.
  6. Demetri-Lewis A, et al. Breast calcifications: The focal group. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2012;198:W325.
  7. Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 31, 2013.
  8. Neal L (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 31, 2013.
  9. Whaley DH (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 4, 2013.
MY00101 Feb. 21, 2013

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