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Breast calcifications
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-calcifications/MY00101
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Definition
Breast calcifications are calcium deposits within breast tissue. They appear as white spots or flecks on a mammogram and are usually so small that you can't feel them.
Breast calcifications can be seen on mammograms performed in most women and are especially prevalent after menopause. Although breast calcifications are usually noncancerous (benign), certain patterns of calcifications — such as tight clusters with irregular shapes — may indicate breast cancer.
On a mammogram, breast calcifications can appear as large white dots or dashes (macrocalcifications) or fine, white specks, similar to grains of salt (microcalcifications). Macrocalcifications are almost always noncancerous and require no further testing or follow-up. Microcalcifications are usually noncancerous, but certain patterns can be a sign of cancer. If calcifications are suspicious, further testing may be necessary, including additional mammograms with magnification views or a breast biopsy.
Causes
While 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
When to see a doctor
Your doctor may recommend additional testing if the calcification:
- Is clustered rather than scattered throughout the breast
- Varies in size and shape from other calcifications, also known as pleomorphic calcifications
Testing may include additional mammograms with magnification views of the calcification, as well as ultrasound imaging or biopsy. The radiologist also will likely request any prior mammogram images you have had to compare and determine if the calcifications are new or have changed in number or pattern. Some women are instructed to return for short-term follow up in about six months to have another mammogram that checks for any changes to appearance of the breast calcifications.
- 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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