Faculty Collaboration Database

Benign Arterial Calcification on Screening Mammogram: A Marker for Coronary Artery Disease? J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2015 Oct;24(10):795-800

Date

06/11/2015

Pubmed ID

26061129

DOI

10.1089/jwh.2014.4905

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84945588100 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   14 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown several risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), such as diabetes and hypertension, are associated with benign arterial calcifications (BACs) seen on screening mammograms. However, there are few studies examining the association of BACs with women who are diagnosed with CAD. The purpose of our study was to determine whether there is an association between BACs present on routine screening digital mammograms and the presence of CAD as documented on cardiac catheterization.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on women aged ≥40 years who had undergone a digital screening mammogram within two years of also having a cardiac catheterization from 1999 to 2010. Mammograms were reviewed for the presence of BACs. Cardiac catheterizations were reviewed for the presence of CAD. Patients with BACs were compared with those without BACs by chi-squared or Wilcoxon rank sum tests.

RESULTS: The final study cohort consisted of 198 patients with 101 patients having clinically significant cardiac vessel disease. Most patients (67.2%) did not have diabetes, while the majority was hypertensive (83.3%) and had hypercholesterolemia (80.8%). On multivariate analysis, history of smoking (p=0.003), hypercholesterolemia (p≤0.0001), and BACs (p=0.005) were significant predictors of CAD. In a second model, CAD on cardiac catheterization was a significant predictor of BACs found on mammography while a history of smoking was a negative predictor of BACs.

CONCLUSIONS: BACs present on digital screening mammography, history of smoking and hypercholesterolemia were all significant predictors of CAD. Routine screening digital mammography could potentially assist in stratification of patients in consideration of CAD.

Author List

Karm D, Marks DS, Wein M, Kong AL

Authors

Amanda L. Kong MD, MS Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
David S. Marks MD Vice Chair, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Breast
Breast Diseases
Coronary Artery Disease
Female
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypertension
Mammography
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Predictive Value of Tests
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoking
Vascular Calcification