Breast Arterial Calcification (Heart Health Insight) with Your Screening Mammogram

When you have a routine screening mammogram, your images are not just assessing breast tissue for cancer — they also contain information about the blood vessels in the breast, including signs of breast arterial calcification (BAC). Emerging research shows that BAC, which are calcium deposits in the walls of breast arteries, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack and stroke.(1-3)

How we handle BAC findings

• Every screening mammogram we perform is reviewed by a board-certified radiologist who examines all clinically relevant features seen on the images.
• If breast arterial calcification is present, it is documented in your mammogram report that is sent directly to your referring physician.
• Because this is part of your routine medical imaging report, there is no added charge to you or your insurance — it’s included in your standard mammogram service.

Why BAC information matters

Breast arterial calcification does not indicate breast cancer, but studies have shown that its presence on mammography correlates with a higher likelihood of future cardiovascular events compared with women without BAC.

This information can be an important part of your overall health picture when discussed with your healthcare provider alongside traditional risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, family history, and lifestyle.

What this means for you

• You receive a single, comprehensive screening visit.
• Your mammogram report includes breast cancer screening results plus BAC when present.
• There’s no separate billing or add-on fee for this evaluation — you get the benefit of BAC interpretation as part of your standard care.
• Your physician can determine whether to follow up on BAC findings with additional cardiovascular assessment.

If you have questions about your mammogram report or what the presence of breast arterial calcification might mean for your health, we encourage you and your provider to discuss next steps.

References

1. Margolies L, Salvatore M, Hecht HS, et al. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2016;9:350–360.
2. Iribarren C, Go AS, Tolstykh I, et al. J Womens Health. 2014;23:403–410.
3. Daniels LB, Itchhaporia D. JACC Adv. 2025;4(3):101638.