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Arterial Calcifications Seen on Mammograms: Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Pregnancy, and Lactation¹

¹ From the Department of Cardiology, Isala Klinieken, Groot Wezenland 20, 8011 JW Zwolle, the Netherlands (A.H.E.M.M.); Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care (Y.T.v.d.S., Y.v.d.G.), and Department of Radiology (W.P.T.M.M.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; and Preventicon Breast Cancer Screening Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands (D.B., J.J.M.D.). Received February 1, 2005; revision requested April 1; revision received April 14; accepted May 16; final version accepted August 25. Supported by research grant 2100.086 of ZonMw (Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development). Address correspondence to A.H.E.M.M. (e-mail: A.Maas{at}diagram-zwolle.nl).

Purpose: To retrospectively assess if mammographic calcium deposits are related to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and reproductive factors in a subset of women participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study.

Materials and Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board of the University Medical Center Utrecht; informed consent was obtained. Mammograms were evaluated by two radiologists for the presence of breast arterial calcifications (BAC) in the Prospect cohort, a breast cancer screening population of women aged 49–70 years (mean, 57 years) within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Cardiovascular risk factors and reproductive factors were examined for independent effects on the prevalence of BAC. Logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: BAC was present in 194 of 1699 (11%) women and increased with age to 20% in the highest quartile of age (mean, 66 years). The odds ratio was 4.7 in the highest versus the lowest quartile of age (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9, 7.6). After adjustment for age, no significant association was found between BAC and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Current smoking was inversely related to BAC (odds ratio, 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.9). BAC was prevalent in 2.5% of nulliparous women, in 9% of women with one or two children, and in 17% of women with three or more children (odds ratio, 7.2; 95% CI: 2.9, 18.0). Breast feeding after pregnancy was significantly associated with BAC in women who ever were pregnant (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4, 3.6).

Conclusion: Calcifications in arteries on mammograms are associated with increasing age, pregnancy, and lactation but not with various cardiovascular risk factors.

© RSNA, 2006