Patient Notification About Breast Arterial Calcification on Mammography: Empowering Women With Information About...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Breast arterial calcification (BAC) is often incidentally found on mammograms.
• The clinical significance of BAC and its impact on patient behavior are not fully understood.
• Mammography screening provides a potential opportunity to identify cardiovascular risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of notifying women about BAC detected during mammography.
• To determine if notification prompts women to seek cardiovascular evaluation.
• To assess patient perceptions regarding the usefulness of BAC information.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 494 women undergoing screening mammography.
• Radiologist review for presence of BAC.
• Email notification of BAC results and a 3-month follow-up survey.

Main Results:

• 13.8% of women had BAC detected.
• 61.8% of those with BAC completed the follow-up survey.
• 57.1% of respondents discussed BAC results with a physician; 81.0% found the information helpful.

Conclusions:

• Notification of BAC on mammography prompted a majority of women to discuss results with healthcare providers.
• Providing information on BAC may serve as a catalyst for preventive cardiovascular health.
• This highlights the potential of mammography as a tool for broader health risk assessment.