What calcifications are
Calcifications are tiny deposits of calcium in breast tissue. They're very common, especially after 50, and most are benign. Radiologists pay attention to their size, shape and pattern, because certain patterns can be an early sign of cancer.
How they're imaged
Compression mammography is excellent at showing very fine calcifications. Breast CT shows calcifications too, and adds their 3D pattern. In one study, breast CT detected about 98% of the calcification clusters seen on compression mammograms (Liu et al., 2023).
When other options may help
Very fine or faint calcifications can sometimes be clearer on a compression mammogram, so our radiologists may recommend additional or alternative options.