What is mammographic calcification?

Definition. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Breast calcifications are calcium deposits within breast tissue. They appear as white spots or flecks on a mammogram. Breast calcifications are common on mammograms, and they’re especially prevalent after age 50.

What type of breast cancer looks like calcifications?

“The most common form of cancer we see with calcifications is ductal carcinoma in situ, which is considered stage 0 cancer,” Dryden says. Benign calcifications are often scattered throughout both breasts.

What are grouped calcifications on mammogram?

Grouped (or clustered) calcifications, which are defined as at least five calcifications with- in 1 cm3 of tissue, are most often of interme- diate concern for malignancy of the breast. Linear calcifications, which suggest deposits in a duct, are suspicious for malignancy.

Which type of tissue would result in a low attenuation mammographic image?

Fat has a lower X-ray attenuation coefficient (Figure ​2) than fibroglandular tissue and, therefore, is more transparent to X-rays. Thus, regions of fat appear darker on a radiograph of the breast. Regions of brightness associated with fibroglandular tissue are referred to as ‘mammographic density’.

What do suspicious calcifications look like?

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.

What do DCIS calcifications look like?

DCIS is most often discovered during a mammogram used to screen for breast cancer. If your mammogram shows suspicious areas such as bright white specks (microcalcifications) that are in a cluster and have irregular shapes or sizes, your radiologist likely will recommend additional breast imaging.

What does a group of calcifications mean?

Breast calcifications are clusters of calcium that develop in the breast. Usually painless, they are found on routine mammograms. This condition is more common in women over age 50. Calcifications can be a sign that a woman is at risk for developing breast cancer.

What is a mammographic mass?

Masses. A mass is an area of abnormal breast tissue with a shape and edges that make it look different than the rest of the breast tissue on a mammogram. A mass might be seen with or without calcifications.

What percentage of suspicious breast calcifications are malignant?

Among lesions detected in the first episode of screening 40.6% (363 of 894) proved to be malignant, whereas 51.9% (857 of 1651) of microcalcifications assessed in subsequent screening rounds were malignant.