What are breast calcifications?
Calcifications are tiny calcium deposits in the breast tissue that can only be seen on a mammogram. These deposits are so tiny that they can’t be felt by you or your doctor during a breast exam.
What causes breast calcifications?
Breast calcifications can develop in the breast:
- after swelling
- after an injury
- when blood vessels age (get older)
- if a milk duct gets plugged or has been plugged in the past
- if you have breast cancer
Taking calcium pills doesn’t cause breast calcifications.
Are there different types of calcifications?
Yes, there are 2 types of breast calcifications. The type of breast calcification helps a radiologist (a doctor who does imaging tests, like X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs) decide if you need more tests.
Microcalcifications are calcium deposits that look like tiny white specks on a mammogram. Microcalcifications usually aren’t related to cancer. But in about 30% of women with microcalcifications, they can be related to an early breast cancer.
Macrocalcifications are calcium deposits that look like single white dots on a mammogram. They are larger than microcalcifications. As women get older they are more likely to have macrocalcifications. Macrocalcifications are found in more than half of all women over 50 years of age and are usually not related to cancer. They may also develop after an injury to the breast.
What if I have calcifications on a mammogram?
Your follow-up depends on the type of calcifications and how many calcifications you have.
If you have microcalcifications your follow-up may include:
- another mammogram to get a closer, magnified view of the area
- a follow-up mammogram in 3 to 6 months
- a breast biopsy
If you have macrocalcifications, you will have another mammogram. The radiologist will compare your most recent mammograms to ones you’ve had in the past to make sure that the calcifications haven’t changed. As long as the macrocalcifications haven’t changed, you won’t need more testing.
