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Mammogram - calcifications
Microcalcifications or macrocalcifications; Breast cancer - calcifications; Mammography - calcifications
Calcifications are tiny deposits of calcium in your breast tissue. They are often seen on a mammogram .
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find breast tumors and cancer.
Information
The calcium you eat or take in as medicine does not cause calcifications in the breast.
Most calcifications are not a sign of cancer. Causes may include:
- Calcium deposits in the arteries inside your breasts
-
History of
breast infection
Breast infection
A breast infection is an infection in the tissue of the breast.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Noncancerous (benign) breast lumps or cysts
- Past injury to the breast tissue
- Powders, deodorants, or ointments that are placed on the skin
Large, rounded calcifications (macrocalcifications) are common in women over age 50. They look like small white dots on the mammogram. They are most likely not related to cancer. You will rarely need more testing.
Microcalcifications are tiny calcium specks seen on a mammogram. Most of the time, they are not cancer. However, these areas may need to be checked more closely.
WHEN IS FURTHER TESTING NEEDED?
When microcalcifications are present on a mammogram, the doctor (a radiologist) may ask for a larger view so the areas can be examined more closely.
Calcifications that do not appear to be a problem are called benign. No specific follow-up is needed.
In most cases, calcifications that are slightly abnormal but do not look like a problem are also called benign. Most women will need to have a follow-up mammogram in 6 months.
Calcifications that are irregular in size or shape (spiculated), or tightly clustered together, are called "suspicious calcifications." Your health care provider will recommend a stereotactic core biopsy . This is a needle biopsy that uses a type of mammogram machine to help find the calcifications.
Stereotactic core biopsy
A breast biopsy is the removal of breast tissue to examine it for signs of breast cancer or other disorders. There are several types of breast biops...
Most women who have suspicious calcifications do not have cancer.
References
Davidson NE. Breast cancer and benign breast disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 198.
Hunt KK, Green MC, Buccholz TA. Diseases of the breast. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery . 19th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 36.
James JJ, Wilson RM, Evans AJ. The breast. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 6th ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2015:chap 69.
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Mammogram - illustration
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find tumors and to help tell the difference between noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) disease. One breast at a time is rested on a flat surface that contains the x-ray plate. A device called a compressor is pressed firmly against the breast to help flatten out the breast tissue. Each breast is compressed horizontally, then obliquely and an x-ray is taken of each position.
Mammogram
illustration
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Mammogram - illustration
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find tumors and to help tell the difference between noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) disease. One breast at a time is rested on a flat surface that contains the x-ray plate. A device called a compressor is pressed firmly against the breast to help flatten out the breast tissue. Each breast is compressed horizontally, then obliquely and an x-ray is taken of each position.
Mammogram
illustration
Review Date: 10/2/2015
Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, general surgery practice specializing in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
