Calcium deposits on mammograms associated with risk of advanced breast cancer
New BCSC study reveals that mammographic calcifications increase advanced cancer risk beyond having dense breasts and being overweight/obese.
Mammographic calcifications association with risk of advanced breast cancer
New BCSC study reveals that mammographic calcifications increase advanced cancer risk beyond having dense breasts and being overweight/obese.
This study, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, explored whether tiny calcium deposits seen on mammograms, known as mammographic calcifications, are linked to a higher risk of advanced breast cancer. Advanced breast cancer refers to a more serious stage of the disease (prognostic pathologic stage II or higher) and is considered a marker for breast cancer mortality.
The research found that even when a mammogram is initially assessed as negative or benign, the presence of these calcifications is associated with an increased risk of advanced breast cancer. This risk is particularly high for women who also have dense breasts (more glandular and fibrous tissue) and are overweight or obese (Body Mass Index of 25 kg/m2 or higher). For example, postmenopausal women with calcifications, dense breasts, and a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher faced a 5.5-fold increased risk of advanced cancer compared to those without these factors. Similar heightened risks were observed in premenopausal women with the same characteristics.
The study suggests that mammographic calcifications contribute to advanced cancer risk beyond what is already accounted for by breast density and body weight. This information could be valuable for doctors to identify women at very high risk of advanced breast cancer, who might benefit from more frequent mammograms or additional screenings like ultrasound or MRI. Further research is recommended to look into the specific types of calcifications that are most strongly linked to this risk and to incorporate this information into advanced cancer risk models for better accuracy.
Kerlikowske K, Abraham L, Sprague BL, Sattayapiwat O, Nyante SJ, Tice JA, Miglioretti DL. Mammographic calcifications association with risk of advanced breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2025;212(3):555-67. Epub 20250617. doi: 10.1007/s10549-025-07753-z. PubMed PMID: 40526234; PMCID: PMC12209027. [link]
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