Breast Calcifications: A Comprehensive Guide

Written by Hedy Marks
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on December 25, 2024
4 min read

Breast calcifications are small calcium deposits that develop in breast tissue. They are very common and are usually benign (noncancerous). In some cases, certain types of breast calcifications may suggest early breast cancer.

There are two types of breast calcifications:

Macrocalcifications look like large white dots on a mammogram and are often dispersed randomly within the breast. These are common and nearly always noncancerous.

Microcalcifications are small calcium deposits that look like white specks on a mammogram. Usually, these do not indicate cancer, but if they appear in certain patterns, they may be a sign of precancerous cells or early breast cancer.

 

 

Breast calcifications do not cause symptoms, and they are too small to be felt during a routine breast exam. Usually, breast calcifications are first noticed on a mammogram.

Breast calcifications can sometimes indicate cancer. But they can be caused by many other things including:

  • Breast cysts
  • Breast infections
  • Aging of the arteries in your breasts
  • Noncancerous breast lumps called fibroadenomas
  • Mammary duct ectasia, which causes inflammation of the milk ducts
  • Previous breast injury or surgery

What foods cause breast calcifications?

No specific foods cause breast calcifications. They are not caused by getting too much calcium from your diet. 

If you have macrocalcifications, no further testing or treatment is typically needed, as they are usually not harmful. If microcalcifications are seen on your mammogram, another mammogram may be performed to get a more detailed look at the area in question. The calcifications will be classified as either "benign," "probably benign," or "suspicious."

In many cases, you won’t need any treatment for breast calcifications.

''Benign'' calcifications are considered harmless. No further evaluation or treatment is needed.

''Probably benign'' calcifications have a less than 2% risk of being cancer. In other words, about 98% of the time, these types of calcifications are considered not to be cancer. Typically, they will be monitored every six months for at least one year. If no new changes are found after a year of follow-up, your doctor may recommend getting a routine mammogram once a year.

''Suspicious'' calcifications may be benign or an early sign of cancer. So, your doctor may recommend that you have a biopsy. During a biopsy, a small amount of breast tissue containing the calcification is removed and sent to a laboratory to be examined for cancer cells. If cancer is present, treatment may consist of surgery to remove the calcification in the breast.

Two types of biopsies are used to remove breast calcification tissue for further study, including stereotactic core needle biopsy and surgical biopsy.

Core needle biopsy. Under local anesthesia (the area is numbed and you remain awake) a radiologist uses a thin, hollow needle, guided by a computer imaging device, to remove a small piece of tissue containing the suspicious calcifications.

Surgical biopsy. If a core needle biopsy is unable to remove tissue successfully or if the results are unclear, surgery may be needed to get a sample of the calcified breast tissue. A surgeon will perform the biopsy in an operating room under local or general anesthesia. Before the surgery, a radiologist may use X-rays to identify the calcified breast tissue and will then mark the tissue to be removed with either a thin wire or dye. A surgeon will then cut the tissue sample so that it can be sent to a lab for analysis.

You can't prevent or get rid of breast calcifications. They aren't due to lifestyle factors, including diet, or anything else within your control. But it's important to get your regular screenings so that your doctor can find anything suspicious as early as possible.

What can be mistaken for breast calcifications?

Before a mammogram, you'll be instructed not to wear any lotions, creams, powders, deodorants, or antiperspirants on the day of your screening. This is because these products can contain elements that may appear like breast calcifications on your imaging.

Breast calcifications are common. In some cases, they are a sign of cancer, but they are often caused by other noncancerous factors, such as previous breast surgery, breast infections, or the natural aging process of your breasts. If calcifications are found on your mammogram, your doctor will let you know whether any follow-up testing or treatment is required.