Breast arterial calcifications as an indicator of systemic vascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between mammographically detected arterial calcifications and systemic vascular disease.


METHODS
The medical records of 77 women who had either breast arterial calcifications or underwent surgery for carotid stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, or femoropopliteal bypass (study groups A and B) were evaluated and compared with 33 women without breast arterial calcifications (group C). Patients in both arms of the study underwent additional vascular tests or mammography.


RESULTS
Currently available data indicate that there is a statistically significant correlation between the presence of arterial calcifications on the mammogram and atheromatosis of the carotid or femoral arteries.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening mammograms might be useful in the detection of women at risk for systemic vascular disease.
Markopoulos
C
C
Breast Unit, 2nd Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Athens University School of Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece. cmarkop@hol.gr
Mantas
D
D
Revenas
K
K
Kouskos
E
E
Tzonou
A
A
Liapis
C
C
Kostakis
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex