Calcuim deposits shown on mammograms?!
Question: They said I have some calcium deposits that showed up in the mammogram. Anyone else have this? What do you know about it?
Answers: They said I have some calcium deposits that showed up in the mammogram. Anyone else have this? What do you know about it?
Many women have these calcium deposits in the breasts. They are called calcifications. Large deposits are called macrocalcifications, and they are always benign and nothing to worry about. Sometimes we see calcifications within the blood vessels, called vascular calcifications, and they are also benign. But many vascular calcifications could be a sign of diabetes. If your calcifications are either of these types, you usually don't have to do anything else. Since they are benign, there are not further tests or studies.
Small deposits are called microcalcifications, and most of these are benign, but not all. They can also be a sign of a very early breast cancer. This is what screening mammography is designed to do....find an early cancer, before you can feel a lump. If you have just a few scattered microcals, it is probably benign. A group or cluster of linear or branching microcals is more worriesome. If this is the case, a radiologist will usually ask for special mammographic images, called magnification views. These are images taken of just the area in question, so we see only the area with the microcalcifications. That area is magnified, or blown up, so the radiologist can see the shape of the microcals better. Even after these images, a biopsy might be recommended. Nearly 85% of all breast biopsies turn out to be benign, so those are pretty good odds.
There are many options regarding the types of breast biopsies available. If it were my breast, I would ask for a stereotactic breast biopsy. I urge you to look into these, and do some research on the internet, if you are faced with this. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me. Best wishes.....