IS BREAST ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION A RELIABLE INDICATOR OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

Background:- The objective of this study is to detect if the presence of breast artery calcification (BAC) on mammograms is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Materials and Methods:- This is a retrospective study performed in the period from January, 2011 until January, 2015. Females included in the study were those who had Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) done within one year of mammography, which showed breast arterial calcification (BAC).Breast artery calcification (BAC) was classified into mild, moderate, or severe. The presence of coronary artery calcification(CAC) and the calcium score were determined for all females. With respect to coronary artery stenosis, patients were classified into three groups: normal (no stenosis), non-significant stenosis (less than 50% of luminal narrowing), or significant stenosis (equal to or more than 50% of luminal narrowing) (15). The correlation between BAC site and severity, CAC scoresand coronary artery stenosis was determined. Results:- Forty-four females had breast arterial calcification (BAC), and Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) done within one year of mammography. The mean age of those females was 63.41 ± 8.12 years.15% of the females with BAC and coronary artery calcification had unilateral BAC, while 85% of them had bilateral BAC, the correlation of which was statistically significant. There was also a significant difference between females with BAC and coronary artery calcification (59%) and those with BAC and no coronary artery calcification (41%). On the other hand, females with severe BAC and non-significant coronary artery stenosis were less than those with moderate BAC and coronary artery stenosis (25% and 37.5%, respectively). In addition, there was no significant correlation between the severity of BAC and CAC scores (r: 0.08, P: <0.05). Conclusion:- The presence of BAC is associated with a high incidence of coronary artery calcification. However, the severity of BAC has no significant correlation with CAC scores or coronary artery disease on CTCA.