Mammography as a screening tool for peripheral vascular disease.
Paul S Dale1, Joe Graham, Kirt W Nichols
1Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, 115 Business Loop 70 W., DC 116.94, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65203, USA. daleps@health.missouri.edu
American Journal of Surgery
|September 19, 2006
Summary
Routine screening mammograms can detect vascular calcifications, indicating a higher risk for peripheral vascular disease (PVD). This finding may lead to mammography being used as an inexpensive screening tool for early PVD detection in women.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Vascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a progressive condition often diagnosed late.
- Current screening methods for PVD are limited.
- Vascular calcifications on mammograms may indicate increased PVD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between benign vascular calcifications on mammography and PVD.
- To determine if mammography can serve as an early screening tool for PVD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of screening mammograms for vascular calcifications.
- Retrospective review of mammograms from women with diagnosed PVD.
- Statistical analysis (chi-square test, odds ratio, relative risk) to assess association.
Main Results:
- 19% of women in the general screening population had vascular calcifications.
- 42% of women with PVD showed vascular calcifications on mammograms.
- A significant association (P > .001) was found between PVD and mammographic vascular calcifications, with an odds ratio of 3.06.
Conclusions:
- Mammographic vascular calcifications are significantly more prevalent in women with PVD.
- Screening mammography shows potential as an inexpensive tool for identifying women at risk for PVD.
- Further research is needed to confirm mammography's role in widespread PVD screening.
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