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Mammograms can do more than detect breast cancer – they also offer important clues on heart health
State law now requires mammography centers to tell patients when scans show a marker linked to higher cardiovascular risk, officials said.
- In October 2026, Maryland became the first state to require mammography centers to notify patients in writing if breast arterial calcification appears on their scans.
- Breast arterial calcification, or BAC, refers to calcium deposits in medium-sized arteries carrying blood to the breast; research indicates these deposits signal elevated cardiovascular risk, including heart failure or stroke.
- A meta-analysis of 45 published studies involving more than 68,000 women confirms BAC predicts cardiovascular risk, while artificial intelligence tools now allow radiologists to measure these deposits without extra radiation.
- Doctors can integrate BAC findings into the American Heart Association's PREVENT calculator to estimate cardiovascular risk over the next 10 years, guiding decisions on lifestyle changes or medication.
- Experts emphasize BAC does not cause heart disease, and its absence does not rule out cardiovascular issues; because reporting practices vary, patients should look for 'breast arterial calcification' in radiologist reports.
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25 Articles
Mammograms can do more than detect breast cancer—they also offer important clues on heart health
If you're a woman over 40, you have no doubt heard your doctor tell you to get a mammogram as part of routine screening for breast cancer. But there's another reason, too.
·Douglas, United Kingdom
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Mammograms can do more than detect breast cancer – they also offer important clues on heart health
Breast arterial calcification, or BAC, is easily visible on mammograms, and research shows it can add important insights about a woman's risk of heart disease or stroke. peakSTOCK/iStock via Getty ImagesIf you’re a woman over 40, you have no doubt heard your doctor tell you to get a mammogram as part of routine screening for breast cancer. But there’s another reason, too. A mammogram can show no sign of breast cancer and still reveal something w…
·Boston, United States
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution72% Center
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources are Center
72% Center
L 20%
C 72%
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