Incidental breast calcifications on mammograms linked to much higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Breast arterial calcifications (BACs) identified on screening mammograms may help identify women who face a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new analysis published in Clinical Imaging.

Arrows illustrate breast arterial calcifications for a 65-year-old woman on a screening mammography image (mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal views). Images and caption courtesy of Clinical Imaging

These findings may say a lot more about a patient's long-term health than clinicians realized.