Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging

Korean Society of Echocardiography (한국심초음파학회)
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Breast Arterial Calcification: A Potential Surrogate Marker for Cardiovascular Disease

  • Suh, Jung-Won (Department of Cardiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital) ;
  • Yun, Bo La (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital)
  • Received : 2018.09.01
  • Accepted : 2018.09.04
  • Published : 2018.09.27
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Abstract

Breast arterial calcifications (BAC), frequently observed on screening mammography, have been considered as an incidental finding without increased risk for breast cancer. They are medial calcifications and therefore, are indicative of arteriosclerosis. Previous studies indicated that the risk factors of BAC partly overlap with those of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the presence of BAC is associated with prevalent and incident CVD. This suggests that medial arterial calcification might contribute to CVD through a pathway distinct from the intimal atherosclerotic process. A recent study showed that the presence and severity of BAC are associated with the presence of coronary artery calcification or plaques on coronary computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic women aged more than 40 years. In addition, BAC provided an independent and incremental predictive value over conventional risk factors. Given that population-based mammography screening is currently recommended in asymptomatic women, the evaluation of BAC may be helpful in identifying high-risk women without additional cost or radiation exposure.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)

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