Relations hip between breast arterial cal cif ic ati on detected on mammography an d carotid intima media thick ness as a mar ke r f or subclinical atherosclerosis

Introduction: Breast arterial calcification (BAC) is an incidental finding on mammography that represents medial arterial calcification. Recent evidence suggests that BAC may reflect systemic vascular calcification and may be associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT), measured by B-mode ultrasonography, is a well-established marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BAC detected on mammography and CIMT. Objectives To assess the association between BAC on mammography and CIMT measured by ultrasonography. Materials and methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 120 women aged 40–70 years undergoing mammographic evaluation. Participants were categorized into BAC-present and BAC-absent groups, with 60 women in each group. CIMT was measured using B-mode ultrasonography with a high-resolution linear transducer (5–12 MHz). Clinical variables including age, diabetes, hypertension, and menopausal status were recorded. Statistical analysis included independent t -test, ANOVA, chi-square test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results Women with BAC were significantly older than those without BAC (54.98 ± 6.28 vs 49.43 ± 5.75 years, p < 0.05). Mean CIMT was significantly higher in the BAC group (0.815 ± 0.10 mm) than in the non-BAC group (0.493 ± 0.065 mm) (p < 0.05). CIMT increased with higher BAC grades and showed a strong positive correlation with BAC grade (r = 0.697, p < 0.05). Conclusion BAC on mammography is significantly associated with increased CIMT, suggesting its potential role as an opportunistic marker for early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis.