Incidence of malignancy in hormone therapy users with indeterminate calcifications on mammogram.
OBJECTIVE
This was a pilot study to determine whether menopausal hormone therapy users have a higher incidence of indeterminate calcifications on screening mammogram and a higher rate of associated malignancy than nonusers.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of routine screening mammograms with indeterminate calcifications was conducted to determine the malignancy rate overall and in hormone therapy users and nonusers. A control group of normal screening mammograms was used to determine whether hormone therapy use was representative of the population that undergo screening mammograms and to compare the malignancy rates.


RESULTS
The rates of hormone therapy use in the study and control groups were similar. The overall malignancy rate was 24.7%; no difference existed between users and nonusers. Comparing estrogen only with estrogen-progestin users demonstrated a malignancy rate of 5.8% and 17.6%, respectively (odds ratio 2.28).


CONCLUSIONS
Hormone therapy users with indeterminate calcifications on screening mammograms are not at an increased risk of malignancy than nonusers. Estrogen-progestin users may be at an increased risk over estrogen-only users.
Lochner
Denise M
DM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Santa Clara, CA, USA.
Brubaker
Katherine L
KL
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008327:Mammography; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment