What does chest calcification mean?

Breast problems are a prominent health issue for women nowadays. Calcification of breast hyperplasia is a typical one. When some women experience chest pain, they go to the hospital for examination, and the doctor will tell them that it is caused by calcification of breast hyperplasia. Obviously, only by understanding what breast hyperplasia calcification means can we put our minds at ease, not have too much psychological pressure, and treat this disease.

Calcification of breast hyperplasia is caused by calcium deposition. Regular check-ups are required and symptomatic medication can be used to treat any pain symptoms.

Breast calcifications are calcium deposits that can be seen on a mammogram. There are two types of breast calcifications: macrocalcifications and microcalcifications.

Macrocalcifications are usually degenerative changes inside the breast. They are usually caused by previous injury, inflammation, or aging of the breast arteries and are not usually related to cancer.

Microcalcifications are specks of calcium that may be found at sites of rapidly disintegrating cells. These remnants left behind by rapidly decomposing cells can appear as microcalcifications. When they appear in large groups, it indicates the possibility of small tumors.

Since there is no clear understanding of the mechanism and cause of breast hyperplasia, the current treatment is basically symptomatic. Some patients may experience spontaneous remission several months to 1 to 2 years after onset and usually do not require treatment. For patients with more obvious symptoms and more extensive lesions, wearing a bra to support the breasts or using 5% potassium iodide can relieve the symptoms. In addition, there is hormone therapy. Some people use androgens to treat this disease to inhibit the effects of estrogen, soften nodules, and relieve symptoms; but this treatment may aggravate the imbalance of hormones in the human body and is not suitable for routine use. It should only be considered when the symptoms are severe and affect normal work and life.

During the follow-up observation of the patient, if a lump is found that grows rapidly or becomes hard in a short period of time, the possibility of cancer should be highly suspected. If necessary, a biopsy or simple resection of the affected breast should be performed. If cancer cells are found in the frozen section during the operation, the patient should be treated as breast cancer.

Disease classification

Calcification of breast hyperplasia during lactation

Generally speaking, if you develop breast hyperplasia and calcification during breastfeeding, you can continue breastfeeding if the symptoms are not very serious, but if they are serious, you should stop breastfeeding. To treat mastitis, start by cleaning the breasts.

Rest after early injection, suspend breastfeeding, clean the nipples and areola, promote milk discharge (using a breast pump or sucking), and stop breastfeeding if incision and drainage are required.

The value of mammary gland hyperplasia and calcification in the diagnosis of breast cancer

1. The incidence of breast cancer calcification:

Breast hyperplasia and calcification is one of the common imaging manifestations of breast cancer. Certain specific forms of breast hyperplasia and calcification are risk factors for breast cancer. Statistics show that 65% of breast cancers have calcification, of which 70% are malignant calcifications.

2. The only X-ray sign of early breast cancer

Clustered microcalcifications are often the only X-ray sign of early breast cancer. The morphology, size, number and density of microcalcifications can reflect the nature and extent of the lesion. Tiny calcifications may be located inside or around the mass, with a total number of 6 to 15, with uneven density and varying sizes.

Mammography can improve the diagnosis rate of occult cancer, microcancer (less than 10mm in diameter) and early cancer. It is difficult to characterize a mass with a diameter less than 10 mm, but fine sand-type calcification is often a warning sign of malignant lesions. If there are signs such as surrounding structural disorder, bilateral asymmetry, and thickened vascular shadows at the same time, the possibility of malignant lesions is greater.

Differences between benign and malignant breast hyperplasia and calcification

Compared with benign breast hyperplasia calcifications, the average density of malignant breast hyperplasia calcifications is lower, and the density and size are of greater value in distinguishing benign and malignant breast diseases. The distribution of tiny calcifications in breast X-rays seems to have no pattern to follow, but when pathology finds that the cancer occurs in the terminal duct, the calcification may be located in large areas of necrotic tissue or between cancer cells, or it may exist in the superior duct or at the bifurcation of the duct or in the adjacent alveolar cavity.