Breast arterial calcifications on mammograms do not predict coronary heart disease at coronary angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To examine, in women who underwent cardiac catheterization, whether breast arterial calcifications (BACs) seen at screening mammography correlate with coronary heart disease (CHD) seen at coronary angiography.


METHODS
In an institutional review board-approved, HIPAA-compliant study, 172 women (mean age, 64.29 years +/- 11.97 [standard deviation]) who underwent coronary angiography were recruited, interviewed, and assigned to two groups: those with (CHD+) and those without (CHD-) CHD. The severity and location of the CHD were considered. Their mammograms were reviewed by a breast imaging specialist who was blinded to the CHD status. Student t test, chi(2), and multiple logistic regression tests were performed as appropriate. Presence of BAC was noted and correlated with presence of CHD and presence of cardiac risk factors.


RESULTS
There were 104 women with and 68 women without CHD. Thirty-seven (36%) women in the CHD+ group versus 20 (29%) in the CHD-group (P = .40) had BAC. The mean age of the patients with BAC, 72 years +/- 9.8, was significantly older than the mean age of the patients without BAC, 60.4 years +/- 11.1 (P < .001). Therefore, subjects were divided into those younger than 65 years and those 65 years and older. No correlation existed, despite the fact that BAC was associated with some cardiac risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors did not observe a correlation between BAC and coronary angiography-detected CHD, even when CHD severity was considered. On the basis of these results, caution should be exercised when using screening mammography-detected BAC to identify patients with CHD.
Zgheib
Mohammad H
MH
Department of Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, 360 Seaview Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA.
Buchbinder
Shalom S
SS
Abi Rafeh
Nidal
N
Elya
Marwan
M
Raia
Carolyn
C
Ahern
Kathleen
K
Smith
Marianne C
MC
Costantino
Thomas
T
Flory
Michael J
MJ
Lafferty
James C
JC
Castellanos
Mario R
MR
D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018401:Sample Size; D012720:Severity of Illness Index