title: Breast arterial calcifications and carotid intima-media thickness and haemodynamics: Is there any association?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to research the relation between breast arterial calcifications (BACs) detected on mammography and two well-known markers of cardiovascular diseases-carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and haemodynamics parameters like carotid peak-systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 50 consecutive BAC (+) women and the control group consisted of 55 BAC (-) women. In all participants, BAC was diagnosed using mammography and C-IMT was measured using B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography. BAC was defined as two linear calcification depositions in a conical periphery or as calcific rings at the mammographic evaluation. Doppler spectrum samples were obtained from 2 cm proximal to the main carotid artery bifurcation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postmenopausal female patients ranging in age from 40 to 86 included in this study. When the groups were adjusted for age, a statistically significant difference was found between mean C-IMT of BAC (+) and BAC (-) groups (0.81 ± 0.2 vs. 0.69 ± 0.2 mm; p<0.001). No significant differences were observed between BAC (+) and BAC (-) groups in terms of PSV, EDV, RI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the present study suggest that BAC, diagnosed by mammography, is independently associated with C-IMT. C-IMT measurement is suggested as a useful tool to detect early atherosclerotic changes. However, haemodynamic variables (PSV, EDV, RI) were not statistically different between the BAC (+) and BAC (-) groups. Prospective larger cohort studies are needed to further elucidate whether BAC is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Düzce University; Düzce-Turkey. rbuyukkaya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Büyükkaya
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Büyükkaya
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altunkaş
authors.forename: Beşir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erdoğmuş
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Beyhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yazgan
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ankarali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D013599:Systole; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography