What does “calcification” mean on a physical examination report?

In our physical examination reports, the word "calcification" often appears, especially in the examination of important organs such as the lungs, thyroid, breasts, and prostate. Many people will inevitably feel a little nervous when they see the word "calcification", worrying whether they have a serious disease. Today, let's talk about what calcification is and in which cases calcification needs special attention.

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What is calcification?

Calcification refers to the deposition of calcium ions in the body in the form of phosphates or carbonates in tissues, making these tissues hard. This process is a bit like the formation of scars when a wound heals.

Calcification is normal in many cases and is a way for the body to repair itself. For example, the pineal gland in the skull (which regulates the biological clock) may calcify from the age of 2, and by the age of 40, about 70% of people will have pineal calcification.

What factors lead to calcification?

1. Age: As we age, the body's tissues and organ functions gradually deteriorate, calcium salt deposition will increase, and calcification will become more common.

2. Lifestyle: Bad living habits, such as high-salt diet, smoking and alcoholism, will increase the risk of calcification. A high-salt diet will lead to excessive sodium intake, affecting calcium metabolism; smoking will damage vascular endothelial cells, affecting calcium absorption and utilization; alcoholism and poor blood pressure control may promote vascular atherosclerosis and lead to calcification.

3. Disease: Certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes, if not effectively controlled for a long time, will lead to hyperglycemia and metabolic disorders, which in turn will affect the kidney's excretion and metabolism of calcium and cause calcification.

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In addition, some diseases can also form calcification during the repair process. For example, tissue in the lesion area of ​​tuberculous pneumonia may form calcification during the repair process after inflammation.

Four common types of calcification

1. Thyroid calcification - microcalcification: usually less than 2 mm, in the shape of dots, needles or sand, commonly seen in patients with papillary thyroid cancer , but not all microcalcifications are cancer.

Coarse calcifications: appear as flakes, arcs, or other irregular shapes and usually occur in patients with benign nodular goiter .

Marginal calcification: generally occurs in benign nodules .

2. Breast calcification

About 80% of breast calcifications are benign, but 20% may be malignant lesions. Small, granular, clustered microcalcifications may be an important manifestation of early breast cancer.

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If the calcification morphology suggests malignancy and is accompanied by a breast mass , surgery and pathological examination should be performed immediately.

If there is no lump but the calcification morphology is suspicious , it is best to perform a minimally invasive breast biopsy under X-ray positioning and B-ultrasound guidance to remove the calcification focus.

If it is benign calcification , regular check-ups with mammography and B-ultrasound are sufficient.

3. Prostate calcification

Prostatic calcification refers to the phenomenon of calcium salt deposition in prostatic tissue, which may be related to prostatic hyperplasia, urinary salt precipitation, prostatic reflux and infection.

For asymptomatic prostate calcification, no special treatment is usually required, only regular follow-up and reexamination are required. If accompanied by symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and hematuria, you should seek medical attention in time. In daily life, keep a calm mind, quit smoking and drinking, drink more water, eat less spicy and irritating foods, and avoid staying up late and sitting for a long time.

4. Coronary artery calcification

Coronary artery calcification often occurs in areas where coronary atherosclerotic plaques are formed and is an important sign of coronary atherosclerosis. Severe coronary artery calcification indicates that the patient has a higher risk of myocardial infarction. By controlling blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar within an ideal range and developing good living habits, coronary artery calcification can be effectively prevented and the progression of the disease can be delayed.

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Finally, some people worry that calcification is caused by excessive calcium supplementation, but in fact, the human body can automatically adjust the calcium content, and the excess calcium will not be absorbed but will be directly excreted from the body. Therefore, it is not necessary to be cautious about calcium supplementation or avoid calcium-containing foods in order to avoid calcification.