Cathleen Clare Heffernan MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Elizabeth Victoria Geffen MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Cecilia Luz Mercado MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

As more women delay childbearing, a larger percentage of them are entering the screening population and, as a result, mammography is capturing new calcifications that have developed during lactation. We will use cases from our database and outline a variety of appearances of lactational calcifications on mammography to familiarize radiologists with its spectrum of appearances. 1) Lactational calcifications are most commonly diffuse or scattered; occasionally regional or rarely grouped. 2) They can be bilateral or unilateral. If unilateral, we have noted that the calcifications often correlate with the side of dominant milk production. 3) Morphology is most often round or punctate, sometimes rim.  Amorphous or coarse heterogeneous is less commonly seen. 4) Managment recommendations are usually short interval follow-up.  

1) Pathophysiology of lactational calcifications.  2) Illustrative cases demonstrating the range of appearances of lactational calcifications.  3) Review of our database citing most common imaging findings including morphology and distribution using the BI-RADS lexicon.  4) Review of management recommendations.

http://abstract.rsna.org/uploads/2014/14008170/14008170_j9fw.pdf

Heffernan, C, Geffen, E, Mercado, C, Lactational Calcifications on Mammography:  An Educational Review.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14008170.html