Breast calcification occurs when small calcium particles are spontaneously deposited in breast tissue due to aging or other situations such as a breast infection, fibroadenoma or breast cancer.
Breast calcifications usually don’t cause symptoms, so they can be identified in routine tests, once identified, your doctor may suggest other tests to check their characteristics and, if necessary, indicate the most appropriate treatment. Discover the cells that detect breast cancer.
Depending on the characteristics, calcifications can be classified into:
Benign calcifications, characterized by large calcifications, which must be accompanied by a mammogram each year;
Calcifications are probably benign, as macrocalcifications have an amorphous appearance, so they should be controlled every 6 months;
Similar calcifications of malignancy, in which grouped microcalcifications can be observed, and a biopsy is indicated to verify possible neoplastic characteristics;
Highly suspicious malignancy calcification, characterized by the presence of variable-sized and high-density microcalcifications, being a recommended biopsy and in most surgical ablation situations.
Microcalcifications are not palpable and may be related to breast cancer, which is important to identify with a mammogram, while macrocalcifications, on the other hand, are generally benign and irregularly shaped, which can be identified by ultrasound or mammography.
Diagnosis of breast calcifications is usually done through routine tests, such as mammography and breast ultrasound. From breast tissue testing, your doctor may choose to perform a breast biopsy, which is performed by removing a small piece of breast tissue, which is sent to the lab for testing and normal cells can be identified. the neoplastic. Know what you’re doing to take the biopsy.
Depending on the biopsy result and tests requested by your doctor, it is possible to check the severity of calcification and determine the best treatment, indicated for women with malignant calcifications, recommended for surgical removal of calcifications, use of medication or radiation therapy.
One of the main causes of breast calcification is aging, as breast cells go through a progressive degenerative process. In addition to aging, the other possible causes of the development of breast calcifications are:
Remains of breast milk;
Breast infection
Wounds on the mom
Surgical points;
Silicone implants are placed in the breasts;
Fibroadenoma.
Although in most cases it is a benign process, the calcium deposit in breast tissue could be a sign of breast cancer, so it should be studied and treated by the doctor if necessary. See the main symptoms of breast cancer.
See how to self-explore your breast in the following video: