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Prevalence of breast arterial calcification in hypertensive patients

M Cetin1, R Cetin, N Tamer

  • 1Department of Radiology, Ankara Oncology Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. muzuncetin@yahoo.com

Clinical Radiology
|December 31, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Breast arterial calcification (BAC) prevalence increases with age in women with hypertension. BAC on mammograms may indicate undiagnosed hypertension, particularly in non-diabetic individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Systemic hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Arterial calcifications are markers of vascular aging and disease.
  • Breast arterial calcifications (BAC) are visible on mammograms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the age-specific prevalence of breast arterial calcifications (BAC) in women with systemic hypertension.
  • To assess the association between BAC and hypertension.
  • To evaluate BAC as a potential indicator of undiagnosed hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of mammograms and patient records for 2406 women.
  • Evaluation of mammograms for the presence of arterial calcification.
  • Hypertension defined by anti-hypertensive medication use; diabetes by glucose-lowering medication use.

Main Results:

  • BAC prevalence was 17.6% in hypertensive women, 25.4% in diabetic women, and 7.3% in non-diabetic, non-hypertensive women.
  • BAC prevalence increased with age across all groups.
  • The highest prevalence (81.8%) was observed in diabetic women over 60; BAC was absent in women under 40.

Conclusions:

  • Breast arterial calcification is associated with systemic hypertension and its prevalence rises with age.
  • Mammographic detection of BAC may suggest unsuspected hypertension, especially in non-diabetic patients.
  • BAC serves as a potential imaging biomarker for cardiovascular risk.
Abstract

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