Causes

Sometimes calcifications indicate breast cancer, such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but most calcifications result from noncancerous (benign) conditions.

Possible causes of breast calcifications include:

• Breast cancer
• Breast cysts
• Cell secretions or debris
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Fibroadenoma
• Mammary duct ectasia
• Previous injury or surgery to the breast (fat necrosis)
• Previous radiation therapy for cancer
• Skin (dermal) or blood vessel (vascular) calcification

Products that contain radiopaque materials or metals, such as deodorants, creams or powders, may mimic calcifications on a mammogram, making it more difficult to interpret whether the calcifications are due to benign or cancerous changes. Because of this, skin products of any kind should not be worn during a mammogram.