Breast calcifications are small deposits of calcium in the breast tissue. They are typically noncancerous. However, some forms can occasionally indicate breast cancer.
Breast calcifications do not cause symptoms. A doctor or healthcare professional may notice them during a mammogram. A person may only require treatment for breast calcifications if it is necessary to treat an underlying condition.
Read on to learn more about breast calcifications, including their types and causes. This article also examines what may happen if they show up on a screening test.
Calcifications are small calcium deposits that develop in the breasts. They do not cause symptoms, and a doctor cannot diagnose them by a routine breast check.
Instead, they typically appear as white dots on a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breasts. Other breast scans, such as ultrasounds and MRIs, do not show calcifications.
Calcifications are more likely to develop after menopause.
Most breast calcifications are benign. However, clusters of calcium deposits can suggest early breast cancer. A 2017 study looking at mammograms taken between 2007 and 2011 indicated that
While calcifications do not develop into cancer, they can suggest an underlying process that has connections to breast cancer.
Learn more about the early signs of breast cancer.
Two types of breast calcifications can appear on mammograms: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications. Some people have a mix of both.
Macrocalcifications
Macrocalcifications appear as large white dots that occur randomly throughout the breast tissue. They are greater than 0.5 millimeters (mm) in diameter.
Macrocalcifications are usually noncancerous. As a result, people with macrocalcifications in the breast typically require no follow-up testing.
Microcalcifications
Microcalcifications appear as tiny white specks or grains. Many cases of microcalcifications are benign. However, if they have certain characteristics, they may indicate an underlying cancerous process.
Doctors usually regard microcalcifications as suspicious and in need of further investigation if they:
- are smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter
- differ in size and shape
- occur in clusters in one area of the breast
Although this number is not definitive, a cluster generally consists of at least
Calcifications outside the main breast tissue
Occasionally, a mammogram may show calcifications outside of the main breast tissue. These may appear to be on the skin or inside the blood vessels.
Deodorant, lotions, and powder residue may cause white dots to appear on the X-ray results. For this reason, people should avoid applying any skin products before the screening.
If the radiologist confirms the location as outside of the breast tissue, these calcifications require no further testing.
Learn more about calcification.
View the slideshow below for photos showing breast calcification.
Learn about what breast cancer looks like on a mammogram.
Calcifications can occur in the breast tissue as a result of:
- trauma from injury or surgery
- infection
- calcium buildup in the breast, similar to atherosclerosis in the blood vessels
- cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs in the breast
- mammary duct ectasia, or clogged milk ducts
- fat necrosis, or dead fat cells
- fibroadenoma, a benign breast tumor
- radiation therapy for breast cancer
- invasive breast cancer
- ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a cancer of the cells that line the milk ducts
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Risk factors for breast cancer can also increase the likelihood of breast calcifications. These
- a personal history of breast cancer
- a family history of breast cancer
- a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, such as having a BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation
Eating calcium-rich foods does not cause breast calcifications.
Learn more about BRCA genes, testing, and mutations.
If calcifications appear on a mammogram, the radiologist will decide if further investigation is necessary.
Generally, they do not consider further testing necessary for macrocalcifications. If the calcifications are of a standard size and shape, a person is less likely to require a follow-up.
However, the radiologist may advise further testing if large calcifications occur in clusters or alongside microcalcifications.
If they consider the calcifications to be suspicious, they may:
- perform another mammogram to view the calcifications more closely
- check prior mammogram images to look for changes in calcification characteristics
- refer the case to another doctor depending on the condition they suspect
A doctor may:
- review the X-ray images and radiology report
- take a breast biopsy to test the breast tissue for signs of cancer
- recommend a breast MRI
- recommend screening every 6 months to check for changes to the calcifications
If a doctor identifies calcifications on the mammogram of someone with a history of breast cancer or is at high risk of developing cancer, they will consider these risk factors when deciding on further testing
Benign calcifications do not usually require any treatment. However, if they are due to another medical condition, a doctor will provide information about the underlying condition and treatment options.
If the calcifications indicate breast cancer, a person will require treatment. Treatment aims to kill the cancerous cells and stop the spread of cancer. The type of treatment a person will need depends on the type of breast cancer, its size and stage, and other factors.
Potential treatments for breast cancer
Learn more about the treatments for each stage of cancer.
How serious is calcification in the breast?
Typically, breast calcifications are noncancerous. They usually do not require further investigation or treatment. However, they can occasionally indicate a serious underlying condition, such as DCIS.
What type of breast cancer starts with calcifications?
Breast calcifications may be an early sign of DCIS. DCIS is stage 0 breast cancer, or a pre-cancerous lesion.
Do breast calcifications need to be removed?
Benign breast calcifications do not require treatment. However, if they represent an underlying condition, such as DCIS or an invasive cancer, then removal will be necessary.
Can breast calcifications be metastatic?
According to a
What is the survival rate for malignant breast calcifications?
The survival rate for malignant breast calcifications can depend on the type of malignancy. For example, according to a 2019 article, DCIS had a 10-year survival rate of
A person’s doctor can provide more accurate information about their outlook based on their circumstances.
Breast cancer resources
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on breast cancer.
Breast calcifications are small calcium deposits in breast tissue that may show up on a mammogram.
Although they are usually benign, sometimes, breast calcifications may indicate an underlying condition, such as breast cancer.
If breast calcifications are benign, they do not require follow-up investigations or treatment.
If a radiologist considers the calcifications suspicious, a person may require further tests to determine the underlying cause. Treatments can depend on the condition causing the calcifications.