What Women Need To Know About Breast Calcifications
By Dr. Fred Kiyaski
Breast calcifications are a common finding among postmenopausal women. They represent calcium deposits in cells of the breast. Seen from an X-ray image (mammogram), they resemble white flecks that may either be scattered throughout the tissues or organized in clusters. The good news is that these changes are rarely pathological except in rare circumstances where they may point towards a cancerous process.
One will need the help of a radiologist to accurately read and interpret the findings of a mammogram. Radiologists broadly classify the densities into two major categories: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications. The former group is made up of coarse densities more frequently found in milk ducts. This is the commoner type in older women (at least 50% of them). Only 1 in 10 of the younger women have found with them.
Microcalcifications are finer and appear as white specks on images. When visualized at a particular site in the breast tissue, they are an indication of high mitotic activity. This means that there is a high rate of cell division as cells are synthesized to replace those that have been damaged. Neither macrocalcifications nor microcalcifications have any direct relationship to cancer.
Several risk factors are now known to predispose to the condition. Perhaps the most important of these is advancing age. The exact reason as to why more cases are found in the older age group is yet to be established. Besides age, the other risk factors are trauma, fibroadenoma, cysts, cell debris secretions, mammary duct ectasia and inflammatory conditions in the breast tissue among others. Claims that high calcium in the diet may cause deposition have no scientific backing.
The diagnosis of this condition is still a big challenge. The main reason for this is because the condition is largely asymptomatic. The deposits are extremely small and cannot be located during routine breast examinations. It is only during routine mammograms that they are picked incidentally. Upon examining the mammogram, the attending radiologist may or may not request for further investigations depending on the initial findings.
If the majority of the densities are macrocalcifications, there is no need for treatment or any follow up as they do not point towards any disease. Microcalcifications, on the other hand, frequently require further investigations particularly those that are distributed in clusters and those with irregular shapes. A second mammogram at a greater magnification may help bring out more detail. Others investigations are biopsies and an ultrasound scan.
A biopsy is indicated when the initial picture is highly suggestive of cancer. This investigation involves removal of a surgical specimen from the diseased tissue and to subject it to microscopy. When this is done, it is possible to classify the lesions as being benign or cancerous. Available modes of treatment for cancerous cases include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Breast calcifications are still the subject of research as more information is sought regarding their relationship to cancer. The good news is that so far, they are regarded as normal degeneration changes. Women who happen to have them are advised to seek professional guidance on how to deal with their specific condition. Those with suspicious lesions need to be examined every six months to check for progression.
One will need the help of a radiologist to accurately read and interpret the findings of a mammogram. Radiologists broadly classify the densities into two major categories: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications. The former group is made up of coarse densities more frequently found in milk ducts. This is the commoner type in older women (at least 50% of them). Only 1 in 10 of the younger women have found with them.
Microcalcifications are finer and appear as white specks on images. When visualized at a particular site in the breast tissue, they are an indication of high mitotic activity. This means that there is a high rate of cell division as cells are synthesized to replace those that have been damaged. Neither macrocalcifications nor microcalcifications have any direct relationship to cancer.
Several risk factors are now known to predispose to the condition. Perhaps the most important of these is advancing age. The exact reason as to why more cases are found in the older age group is yet to be established. Besides age, the other risk factors are trauma, fibroadenoma, cysts, cell debris secretions, mammary duct ectasia and inflammatory conditions in the breast tissue among others. Claims that high calcium in the diet may cause deposition have no scientific backing.
The diagnosis of this condition is still a big challenge. The main reason for this is because the condition is largely asymptomatic. The deposits are extremely small and cannot be located during routine breast examinations. It is only during routine mammograms that they are picked incidentally. Upon examining the mammogram, the attending radiologist may or may not request for further investigations depending on the initial findings.
If the majority of the densities are macrocalcifications, there is no need for treatment or any follow up as they do not point towards any disease. Microcalcifications, on the other hand, frequently require further investigations particularly those that are distributed in clusters and those with irregular shapes. A second mammogram at a greater magnification may help bring out more detail. Others investigations are biopsies and an ultrasound scan.
A biopsy is indicated when the initial picture is highly suggestive of cancer. This investigation involves removal of a surgical specimen from the diseased tissue and to subject it to microscopy. When this is done, it is possible to classify the lesions as being benign or cancerous. Available modes of treatment for cancerous cases include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Breast calcifications are still the subject of research as more information is sought regarding their relationship to cancer. The good news is that so far, they are regarded as normal degeneration changes. Women who happen to have them are advised to seek professional guidance on how to deal with their specific condition. Those with suspicious lesions need to be examined every six months to check for progression.
About the Author:
For women who develop breast calcifications, acquiring more info is helpful to alleviate worry. You can see details about calcifications in the breast by visiting our web pages right here.
By Dr. Fred Kiyaski
Breast calcifications are a common finding among postmenopausal women. They represent calcium deposits in cells of the breast. Seen from an X-ray image (mammogram), they resemble white flecks that may either be scattered throughout the tissues or organized in clusters. The good news is that these changes are rarely pathological except in rare circumstances where they may point towards a cancerous process.
One will need the help of a radiologist to accurately read and interpret the findings of a mammogram. Radiologists broadly classify the densities into two major categories: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications. The former group is made up of coarse densities more frequently found in milk ducts. This is the commoner type in older women (at least 50% of them). Only 1 in 10 of the younger women have found with them.
Microcalcifications are finer and appear as white specks on images. When visualized at a particular site in the breast tissue, they are an indication of high mitotic activity. This means that there is a high rate of cell division as cells are synthesized to replace those that have been damaged. Neither macrocalcifications nor microcalcifications have any direct relationship to cancer.
Several risk factors are now known to predispose to the condition. Perhaps the most important of these is advancing age. The exact reason as to why more cases are found in the older age group is yet to be established. Besides age, the other risk factors are trauma, fibroadenoma, cysts, cell debris secretions, mammary duct ectasia and inflammatory conditions in the breast tissue among others. Claims that high calcium in the diet may cause deposition have no scientific backing.
The diagnosis of this condition is still a big challenge. The main reason for this is because the condition is largely asymptomatic. The deposits are extremely small and cannot be located during routine breast examinations. It is only during routine mammograms that they are picked incidentally. Upon examining the mammogram, the attending radiologist may or may not request for further investigations depending on the initial findings.
If the majority of the densities are macrocalcifications, there is no need for treatment or any follow up as they do not point towards any disease. Microcalcifications, on the other hand, frequently require further investigations particularly those that are distributed in clusters and those with irregular shapes. A second mammogram at a greater magnification may help bring out more detail. Others investigations are biopsies and an ultrasound scan.
A biopsy is indicated when the initial picture is highly suggestive of cancer. This investigation involves removal of a surgical specimen from the diseased tissue and to subject it to microscopy. When this is done, it is possible to classify the lesions as being benign or cancerous. Available modes of treatment for cancerous cases include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Breast calcifications are still the subject of research as more information is sought regarding their relationship to cancer. The good news is that so far, they are regarded as normal degeneration changes. Women who happen to have them are advised to seek professional guidance on how to deal with their specific condition. Those with suspicious lesions need to be examined every six months to check for progression.
One will need the help of a radiologist to accurately read and interpret the findings of a mammogram. Radiologists broadly classify the densities into two major categories: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications. The former group is made up of coarse densities more frequently found in milk ducts. This is the commoner type in older women (at least 50% of them). Only 1 in 10 of the younger women have found with them.
Microcalcifications are finer and appear as white specks on images. When visualized at a particular site in the breast tissue, they are an indication of high mitotic activity. This means that there is a high rate of cell division as cells are synthesized to replace those that have been damaged. Neither macrocalcifications nor microcalcifications have any direct relationship to cancer.
Several risk factors are now known to predispose to the condition. Perhaps the most important of these is advancing age. The exact reason as to why more cases are found in the older age group is yet to be established. Besides age, the other risk factors are trauma, fibroadenoma, cysts, cell debris secretions, mammary duct ectasia and inflammatory conditions in the breast tissue among others. Claims that high calcium in the diet may cause deposition have no scientific backing.
The diagnosis of this condition is still a big challenge. The main reason for this is because the condition is largely asymptomatic. The deposits are extremely small and cannot be located during routine breast examinations. It is only during routine mammograms that they are picked incidentally. Upon examining the mammogram, the attending radiologist may or may not request for further investigations depending on the initial findings.
If the majority of the densities are macrocalcifications, there is no need for treatment or any follow up as they do not point towards any disease. Microcalcifications, on the other hand, frequently require further investigations particularly those that are distributed in clusters and those with irregular shapes. A second mammogram at a greater magnification may help bring out more detail. Others investigations are biopsies and an ultrasound scan.
A biopsy is indicated when the initial picture is highly suggestive of cancer. This investigation involves removal of a surgical specimen from the diseased tissue and to subject it to microscopy. When this is done, it is possible to classify the lesions as being benign or cancerous. Available modes of treatment for cancerous cases include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Breast calcifications are still the subject of research as more information is sought regarding their relationship to cancer. The good news is that so far, they are regarded as normal degeneration changes. Women who happen to have them are advised to seek professional guidance on how to deal with their specific condition. Those with suspicious lesions need to be examined every six months to check for progression.
About the Author:
For women who develop breast calcifications, acquiring more info is helpful to alleviate worry. You can see details about calcifications in the breast by visiting our web pages right here.
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