Causes of breast calcification

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Dr., Doctor Tran Nhu Tu and Master, Doctor Le Thi Hong Vu - Department of Diagnostic Imaging - Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.
Calcification of the mammary gland is common in elderly women, due to calcium deposition in the mammary glands. This condition, detected by mammograms, can have many causes. From the size, shape... of the calcified nodules that can guide the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

1. What is breast calcification?

Breast calcification is the deposition of calcium salts, most commonly CaCO3, in female breast tissues. The calcium deposition organs are usually very small, making the patient unable to feel and causing no symptoms in the breast. This condition is common in older women due to signs of breast changes in physiological function.
Most patients with mammary gland calcifications are usually benign, but it can be an early sign of breast cancer, so it is necessary to have regular checkups to monitor the growth of calcified nodules.
On mammography, calcifications are divided into 2 types as follows:
Large calcified nodules appear as white, round, well-demarcated spots on a mammary gland. Large calcifications are common in women, especially in women over the age of 50, which is a natural sign of aging mammary glands. The large calcified nodules seen on film were considered benign. Microcalcifications are small calcified nodules of very small size, sometimes need to be magnified to see microcalcifications, appearing with many small white spots on mammograms. If only one microcalcification point is usually benign. But if they appear irregular or have a distinctive shape such as a cluster or are limited, microcalcifications can be a sign of cancer, which needs to be fully examined and diagnosed. status, should be monitored regularly.

2. Causes of mammary gland calcification

Due to benign mammary gland calcifications such as:
Due to breast trauma or previous breast surgery causing damage to breast tissue or necrosis of fatty tissue leading to increased calcium deposition in the mammary gland Infection or inflammation of the breast tissue Disease ductal management such as ductitis, milk duct obstruction. Inflammation in ducts leading to calcification Folliculitis on breast skin or blood vessels in mammary glands Due to excess of cell secretions and cell debris Mammary cysts, fibroadenomas of the mammary gland Treatments such as radiation therapy for breast cancer, can sometimes lead to increased calcification in the breast. There are some cases when patients use anti-odor creams, powders in the chest or armpits, causing false images similar to calcified nodules, so patients when taking pictures do not apply creams or powders to avoid creating Fake images make diagnosis difficult. In addition to benign causes on mammary gland calcifications, malignant causes are breast cancer or breast cancer.
Although most causes of mammary gland calcification are benign, malignancy cannot be ruled out. If the image is not clear or in doubt, the doctor will do some more tests to make a definite diagnosis.

3. What to do when breast calcification?

In case the calcified nodules are determined to be benign, no treatment is required, only periodic monitoring every 6 months. Assess the change, the degree of development in size, shape, number of calcifications.
In case breast calcification is suspected to be related to precancerous disease or breast cancer, it should be combined with other methods to make a definite diagnosis.

From the location of the calcified nodule on the mammogram, use measures to remove the breast tissue there and conduct a cell biopsy. If the result is cancer, treatment depends on the stage of breast cancer, which offers surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. If negative, the patient still has to follow up periodically to detect abnormal changes early. Breast calcifications can be caused by benign causes, but can be an indicator of breast cancer. Breast calcification detected through mammography is a subclinical method used in breast cancer screening. Early detection of breast cancer offers a chance to be cured, reducing the mortality rate significantly for women.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a Breast Cancer Screening Package to help detect breast cancer early even when there are no symptoms.
Breast cancer screening package at Vinmec for the following subjects:
Female customers, over 40 years old. Customers wishing to be able to screen for breast cancer Customers are at high risk of cancer – especially customers with a family history of breast cancer. Women of reproductive age, perimenopause and menopause. Women who are showing symptoms of breast cancer such as: pain in the breast, lump in the breast,... When registering for the Breast Cancer Screening Package, customers will receive:
Examination and consultation with a specialist doctor oncology. Breast cancer screening by bilateral breast ultrasound and mammogram Mammomat Inspiration. A team of highly qualified and experienced doctors. Comprehensive patient care and treatment, multi-specialty coordination towards individualizing each patient. Having a full range of specialized facilities to diagnose the disease and stage it before treatment: Endoscopy, CT scan, PET-CT scan, MRI, histopathological diagnosis, gene-cell testing, .. Having a full range of main cancer treatment methods: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant... Dr. Tran Nhu Tu has over 20 years of experience, of which 3 years is Deputy Head. Subclinical Department - Hoa Vang Hospital, 16 years working as Deputy Head of Diagnostic Imaging Department at Da Nang Hospital, 4 years working as Head of Imaging Department at Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital; Dr. Tu makes accurate diagnoses, minimizes errors based on acquired images, and is ready to serve patients 24/24 in emergencies and emergencies.
Dr. Tu has participated in domestic and foreign training courses such as: Master of Radiology, Research Fellow in Diagnostic Imaging at Hanoi Medical University, Diagnostic Imaging at CHU Reims - France, Electricity interventional radiology at Winterthur hospital - Switzerland, interventional radiology at Singapore General Hospital... before being the head of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Vinmec Danang Hospital as it is now.
Master Doctor Le Thi Hong Vu has good English, participated in many short-term and continuous training courses on annual diagnostic imaging. The doctor has more than 7 years of experience as a doctor in the field of diagnostic imaging, especially ultrasound.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register online HERE.
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