Women's Health
Calcifications Seen in Blood Vessels on Mammograms May Predict StrokeIn addition to detecting breast cancer in its early stages, new research suggests that mammograms may also help predict which women are at risk for strokes, say researchers at the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference.
Calcifications found in the blood vessels of the breasts - what physicians call benign arterial calcifications - were more commonly found on the mammograms of women who had suffered a stroke, says Dr. Paul S. Dale of the University of Missouri.
Stroke is the third-leading cause of death for women older than 40, says Dale. Previous studies, including some by the University of Missouri team, have found a link between these noncancerous calcifications and the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. But Dale says he believes this latest study has found an even stronger association. "This article supports earlier work in this area showing that arterial calcifications on mammography indicate that the patient may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease," says Jennifer Harvey, M.D., Division Head of Breast Imaging at the University of Virginia Health System. Women with Strokes Had CalcificationIn all, they looked at 793 mammograms of women ages 40 to 90. Of the 204 women in the group who had had a stroke, 115 had the calcifications. "Of those who had a stroke, 56 percent of them had these calcifications on their mammograms, compared to about 10 percent of women in the general population," says Dale. "The important thing here is, we adjusted for age, because age increases your risk of stroke and also of having calcifications on your mammogram," he says. While the finding is not brand-new, it is interesting, notes Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital. "There have been other studies to show this," she says. "As a cardiologist, I would love this information." At UVA, Harvey says, physicians pay particularly close attention when there are arterial calcifications in younger women that seem out of proportion compared with women of a similar age and note that the patient may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. "I think that noting arterial calcifications can have the greatest impact for women that may not know that they are at greater risk - namely when the calcifications are greater than one would anticipate for her age," she says. For instance, Harvey recalled a patient she saw a few years ago who was in her late 40s and had moderate arterial calcifications. "Her cholesterol level was in the normal range. She and her physician decided to check her carotid arteries anyway because she had a family history of cardiovascular disease," Harvey says. "The test showed that she already had moderate blockage in her blood vessels putting her at higher risk for future stroke. She is now taking cholesterol-lowering agents. This woman was running marathons and was in better shape than most of us." Findings Should Be Shared, Doctors SayIt is one more piece of information, says Steinbaum, that could potentially help inform doctors about a woman's risk for cardiovascular disease. If she got a mammogram from a patient with that information, she says, "It would lead me to believe I need to screen this woman for cardiovascular disease." Dale's team is continuing to study the link between the calcifications and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. It is probably too soon, he says, to advise women to ask their physician if they have calcifications on the mammogram. After more research is done, he says, that might be a consumer-savvy step. To learn more about breast cancer and stroke or other women's health topics, visit www.uvahealth.com. Women can learn more about their unique risks for heart disease - and how to better manage those risks - through Live Red, UVA's new heart-health initiative. You'll learn how heart-attack symptoms can be different for women than for men, and you can take an online risk assessment to learn your personal heart disease risk factors. There, you can sign up for Club Red, our free heart-healthy club for women. Benefits include tips from UVA healthcare providers and a gift package to help you live red in style. Always consult your physician for more information. Online Resources(Our organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.) National Breast Cancer Coalition |
May 2008Calcifications Seen in Blood Vessels on Mammograms May Predict Stroke Women with Strokes Had Calcification Findings Should Be Shared, Doctors Say What is Mammography?Mammography is an X-ray examination of the breast. It is used to detect and diagnose breast disease in women who have breast problems such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge, as well as for women who have no breast complaints. The procedure allows for detection of breast cancers, benign tumors and cysts before they can be detected by touch. Mammography cannot prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but if it raises a significant suspicion of cancer, tissue will be removed for a biopsy. Tissue may be removed by needle or open surgical biopsy and examined under a microscope to determine if it is cancer. The development of digital mammography technology shows promise for improved breast imaging, particularly for women younger than 50, women with dense breast tissue or women who are premenopausal or perimenopausal. Digital mammography provides electronic images of the breasts that can be enhanced by computer technology, stored on computers and even transmitted electronically in situations where remote access to the mammogram is required. A digital mammography is basically performed the same way as a standard mammogram. Today's high-quality screening mammography is the most effective tool available to physicians in detecting breast cancer before lumps can be felt or symptoms of cancer appear. Early detection of breast cancer not only helps provide a woman with more options but also increases the possibility of a favorable prognosis. Always consult your physician for more information. |