What is Mammography?
Mammography is a widely used radiological imaging method for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. It is generally recommended for women over 40 and reveals masses, calcifications, or abnormal structures in breast tissue. While mammography has been the primary screening method for breast health for many years, it can now also be a promising tool for the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.
A New Development: Detecting Cardiovascular Risks in Mammography
Recent scientific studies have shown that mammography images should not only focus on breast tissue but also evaluate calcification findings in the breast arteries.
This calcification can be associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and thus may be a harbinger of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
What Do Scientific Data Say?
According to a 2023 study shared by the American Heart Association (AHA):
- Calcification in the breast artery was detected in one out of every five women undergoing routine mammography.
- Among women with breast artery calcification, the rate of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years was determined to be 21%.
- In contrast, this rate was approximately 11% in women without breast artery calcification.
- Women with detected calcification also had significantly higher rates of hypertension and diabetes.
Atherosclerosis and Women: Why Is It So Important?
Heart and vascular diseases are among the most common causes of death in both men and women. However, while this rate has decreased in men in recent years, it remains constant in women. This indicates that heart diseases in women are not being diagnosed early enough.
Cardiovascular diseases in women can often present with atypical symptoms and may be detected later. Therefore, evaluating common screening methods like mammography for cardiovascular diseases is of great importance.
Breast Artery Calcification: What Does It Mean?
Calcification in the breast artery suggests that similar hardening processes may be occurring in other vascular regions of the body. This condition can be associated with:
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Chronic inflammation
- Hormonal changes and estrogen deficiency
- Metabolic syndrome
- Chronic hypertension and diabetes
In short, the presence of this finding in mammography can be an early warning signal, and additional cardiovascular evaluation may be necessary.
A New Diagnostic Approach: Reporting Vascular Calcification in Mammography
Currently, mammography reports typically focus only on breast tissue. However, experts are now recommending the systematic reporting of breast artery calcification as well.
This can offer the following advantages:
- Earlier identification of women at risk for cardiovascular diseases
- Closer monitoring of risk factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar)
- Referral to cardiology if necessary
- Early initiation of preventive treatments
Who Should Be Screened? Who Is At Risk?
Women with detected vascular calcification in mammography are typically:
- Postmenopausal
- Those with diabetes or hypertension
- Those with a family history of heart disease
- Smokers
- Those with low physical activity
For individuals in this group, further examinations for cardiovascular health (ECG, stress test, ECHO, blood tests, etc.) may be recommended.
Mammography Can Predict Not Only Cancer But Also Heart Disease
Mammography is becoming a tool that can predict not only breast cancer but also heart diseases. The detection of calcification in the breast artery offers an important opportunity for the early diagnosis of atherosclerotic heart and vascular diseases in women.
Reporting this finding in routine mammograms could open a new chapter in protecting women’s heart health.
