title: Mammographic findings in pseudoxanthoma elasticum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been isolated case reports of arterial and skin calcification in mammograms of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), and unpublished anecdotes of many women with PXE undergoing breast biopsy for evaluation of microcalcifications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to systematically evaluate mammography and breast pathology in PXE.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mammograms of 51 women with confirmed PXE were compared with those of a control sample of 109 women without PXE, noting each of the following characteristics on each mammogram: breast density, skin thickening, skin microcalcifications, vascular calcification, breast microcalcifications and macrocalcifications, and masses. The characteristics of the 2 samples were compared using the 2-tailed t test with a pooled estimate of variance. The indications for mammography and data for each of the mammographic findings were analyzed using the chi(2) test. Available breast biopsy material was reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PXE and control groups were similar in age and indications for mammography. There was a statistically significant increase in skin thickening, vascular calcification, and breast microcalcifications in the PXE group (P <.001 each). Breast density, masses, macrocalcifications, and skin calcification did not differ statistically in the 2 groups, but no control patient had axillary calcification, or both vascular calcification and microcalcifications (P <.001). Nearly 1 in 7 of the patients with PXE demonstrated at least 3 of the following: microcalcifications, skin calcifications, vascular calcification, and skin thickening; whereas none of the control group did. Histopathologic findings of breast tissue showed calcification of dermal elastic fibers, subcutaneous arteries, and elastic fibers of the deep fascia and interlobular septae of the fat adjacent to breast parenchyma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast microcalcification and arterial calcification are not rare in the normal population and are not of diagnostic value. The presence of both of these findings, especially with skin thickening or axillary skin calcification, should suggest a diagnosis of PXE. The majority of breast calcifications in PXE are benign.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rhode Island Hospital and Brown Medical School, Providence, USA.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bercovitch
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schepps
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koelliker
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebwohl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011561:Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index