Breast calcifications are calcium deposits within breast tissue. They show up as white places or flecks on a mammogram.

Breast calcifications are widespread on mammograms, and they’re specially prevalent right after age fifty. Though breast calcifications are normally noncancerous (benign), selected designs of calcifications — these kinds of as tight clusters with irregular designs and high-quality visual appearance — may possibly reveal breast cancer or precancerous improvements to breast tissue.

On a mammogram, breast calcifications can show up as macrocalcifications or microcalcifications.

  • Macrocalcifications. These show up as substantial white dots or dashes. They’re just about normally noncancerous and call for no even more testing or adhere to-up.
  • Microcalcifications. These show up as high-quality, white specks, very similar to grains of salt. They’re normally noncancerous, but selected designs can be an early indication of cancer.

If breast calcifications show up suspicious on your initial mammogram, you will be termed back for added magnification sights to get a nearer seem at the calcifications. If the 2nd mammogram is even now worrisome for cancer, your medical doctor may possibly advocate a breast biopsy to know for certain. If the calcifications show up noncancerous, your medical doctor may possibly advocate returning to your common yearly screening or have you return in 6 months for a quick-time period adhere to-up to make certain the calcifications are not transforming.