How are breast calcifications diagnosed?

How are breast calcifications diagnosed?

Most breast calcifications are benign and don’t require any special follow up. There is overlap, though, between the commonly benign calcifications and calcifications that could be an indication of something abnormal. In other words, they can often look the same on your mammogram. For instance, if the mammogram shows a tight cluster of calcifications or tiny flecks of white in a line, the radiologist (the specialist who analyzes the X-ray) may recommend additional testing to rule out cancer.

Follow-up tests may include:

• Diagnostic mammogram: This is a more detailed mammogram than one that’s done for routine screening. Pictures of the affected part of your breast may be taken from many angles to give the radiologist a closer look. This is typically the first test a provider orders to learn more about breast calcifications. Magnification views of the calcifications are an important part of the workup and give the radiologist a better look at their shape and arrangement.
• Biopsy: In many cases, a biopsy is needed to determine the underlying cause of calcium deposits. The biopsy procedure is minimally invasive and involves using imaging to remove a small amount of breast tissue so that a pathologist can check it for signs of disease. During the test, your provider will use mammogram images to guide the biopsy, which is called a stereotactic biopsy of the breast. Tiny pieces of breast tissue in the area of the calcifications are removed in order to assess the area (core needle biopsy).