Mammograms are one resource to detect breast cancer, but it can also show hidden signs of heart disease. (Video via CBS News, KREM: https://www.krem.com/.
While mammograms are primarily known as a life-saving tool for breast cancer screening, they may reveal something unexpected: early warning signs of heart disease. Breast arterial calcification (BAC)—calcium deposits visible in the arteries of breast tissue—can be detected during routine mammograms, offering a unique window into a woman’s cardiovascular health. This overlooked finding could help identify women at increased risk for heart disease years before symptoms appear, making mammogram appointments potentially twice as valuable for overall health.
Though October highlights Breast Cancer Awareness Month, mammograms serve a dual purpose year-round by potentially revealing cardiovascular risks alongside cancer screening. Mount Sinai physicians, utilizing data from Ikonopedia’s system, have shed light on this critical connection. Drs. Laurie Margolies and Mary Ann McLaughlin share how routine mammograms uncovered hidden heart disease indicators in patient Nancy Preston through breast arterial calcification detection.
Dr. Margolies explained, “Blood vessels that supply the breast can get calcified. The same way that blood vessels that are in your heart or that take blood up to your brain can get calcified and cause disease. … It turns out in Nancy’s case to be incredibly significant.”
This discovery underscores why breast health vigilance extends far beyond October—mammograms not only screen for cancer but may also serve as an early warning system for cardiovascular disease, potentially saving lives in ways we’re only beginning to fully appreciate.
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