![]() ![]() If the woman had a lump associated with these calcifications, immediate further testing would have been needed. In this case, the woman was advised to have a follow-up mammogram in three months for comparison. This is considered an abnormal mammogram, but it's not necessarily one that indicates cancer. In this mammogram image, the breast calcifications are in ductal patterns. ![]() ![]() Fine, linear calcifications raise suspicion of underlying breast cancer, whereas popcorn, eggshell, and rim-like calcifications are usually benign. The pattern and shape of microcalcifications can also give radiologists clues about whether cancer may be present. Scattered microcalcifications are usually a sign of benign breast tissue. Sometimes, however, tight clusters of microcalcifications (small calcifications) can be an early warning sign of precancerous cells. Usually, the extra cell growth is not cancerous. These are tiny bits of calcium that may show up in clusters or in patterns (like circles) along the milk ducts.Ĭalcifications are associated with extra cell activity in breast tissue. Here, the lighter white areas show denser tissues, but the more concentrated white spots are calcifications. A breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be recommended for young women with a strong family history of breast cancer or those known to have genetic mutations that increase risk (see below). If a particular area needs a better image, a breast ultrasound is usually the next step. Mammography equipment can be adjusted to image dense breasts, but that may not be enough to solve the problem. Mammogram images like these can be difficult for a radiologist to read because there is less differentiation between normal and possibly abnormal tissue, potentially hiding areas that need closer study. Young women, especially those who have not had children, usually have dense and rather firm breast tissue. Compare these images and you can see the differences in density in what are both normal breasts. As with the first image, the dark areas are fatty tissue, and the light areas are denser tissue that contains ducts, lobes, and other features. This image shows two mammograms of normal, dense breasts. ![]()
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