The "teacup sign": Significance in breast imaging

Milk of calcium (MOC) is a term used for sedimented calcifications within small cysts (Milk of Calcium - an overview|ScienceDirect Topics, n.d.). MOC in the breast is a benign entity and present in 4-6% of women that undergo diagnostic mammography (Park et al., 2008).² Calcium particles within cysts produce 'teacup'-shaped calcifications on true lateral views, and smudged calcifications on craniocaudal (CC) views (Veloso Gomes et al., n.d.).³ On the CC projection, the calcifications will have a cloudlike or smudgy appearance like tea leaves in the bottom of a teacup (Milk of Calcium - an overview|ScienceDirect Topics, n.d.). Because this is a characteristic benign finding, there is no need for the patient to undergo a biopsy.