Prevalence of breast arterial calcification in hypertensive patients.

Abstract

Aim : To determine the age-specific prevalence of breast arterial calcification in patients with systemic hypertension.

Methods : The mammograms and patients records of 250 women who underwent screening or diagnostic mammography were reviewed retrospectively. Mammograms were evaluated for the presence of arterial calcification and results were recorded. Hypertension was defined as use of anti-hypertensive agents and diabetes was defined as use of oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin.

Results : The presence of breast arterial calcification among hypertensives(20 percent) was lower than among diabetics(33.33 percent). The prevalence in the non-diabetic, nonhypertensive group was the lowest(4.16 percent). The prevalence had a tendency to increase with age in all three groups but the statistic significant was not calculated due to small number of the patients. Breast arterial calcification was not found among women younger than 40 years.

Conclusion : Breast arterial calcification is associated with hypertension and prevalence may increase with age. Breast arterial calcificatio on mammograms may indicate unsuspected hypertension especially in non-diabetic patients.