Mammographic Microcalcifications and Breast Cancer: A Case - Control Study
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan.
- 2Department of Breast and General Surgery, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan.
- 3Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Abstract
Background:: Microcalcifications are among the earliest radiographic findings suggestive of breast malignancy and are often detected in women undergoing diagnostic mammography. Their association with breast cancer, independent of other risk factors, is clinically important but not fully understood.
Objective:: To investigate the associations between mammographic microcalcifications and breast cancer risk in women undergoing diagnostic mammography.
Design:: Case‒control study.
Setting:: Breast Care Unit (BCU), Rehman Medical Institute (RMI), Peshawar, Pakistan.
Participants:: Three hundred women aged 30 years and above who underwent diagnostic mammography; 150 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer and 150 (age, menopausal status and ACR density) matched controls with normal breasts.
Main outcome measures:: The presence of microcalcifications on mammography.
Covariates:: ACR breast density, menopausal status, and age group. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated via multivariable logistic regression.
Results:: Microcalcifications were significantly more common in patients (50.7%) than in controls (20.7%) and were independently associated with breast cancer (adjusted OR 5.51, 95% CI: 3.02–10.05; p<0.001). Compared with premenopausal women, perimenopausal women had the highest odds of having breast cancer (adjusted OR 14.30, 95% CI: 3.80–53.78, p<0.001), followed by postmenopausal women (adjusted OR 4.50, 95% CI: 1.74–11.63, p=0.002). The ACR breast density categories B and C were significantly associated with microcalcifications but not independently with breast cancer.
Conclusion:: Mammographic microcalcifications are strong independent predictors of breast cancer, particularly among peri- and postmenopausal women, highlighting their clinical value in risk stratification and diagnostic evaluation.
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BibTeX
@article{sami2026mammographic,
title = {{Mammographic Microcalcifications and Breast Cancer: A Case - Control Study}},
author = {Muhammad Usman Sami and Maira Saeed and Sadia Nazeem and Mehreen Afridi},
journal = {Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.31557/apjcp.2026.27.6.2035},
url = {https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcp.2026.27.6.2035},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mammographic Microcalcifications and Breast Cancer: A Case - Control Study
AU - Muhammad Usman Sami
AU - Maira Saeed
AU - Sadia Nazeem
AU - Mehreen Afridi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/22
JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP
DO - 10.31557/apjcp.2026.27.6.2035
UR - https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcp.2026.27.6.2035
AB - Background:: Microcalcifications are among the earliest radiographic findings suggestive of breast malignancy and are often detected in women undergoing diagnostic mammography. Their association with breast cancer, independent of other risk factors, is clinically important but not fully understood. Objective:: To investigate the associations between mammographic microcalcifications and breast cancer risk in women undergoing diagnostic mammography. Design:: Case‒control study. Setting:: Breast Care Unit (BCU), Rehman Medical Institute (RMI), Peshawar, Pakistan. Participants:: Three hundred women aged 30 years and above who underwent diagnostic mammography; 150 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer and 150 (age, menopausal status and ACR density) matched controls with normal breasts. Main outcome measures:: The presence of microcalcifications on mammography. Covariates:: ACR breast density, menopausal status, and age group. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated via multivariable logistic regression. Results:: Microcalcifications were significantly more common in patients (50.7%) than in controls (20.7%) and were independently associated with breast cancer (adjusted OR 5.51, 95% CI: 3.02–10.05; p<0.001). Compared with premenopausal women, perimenopausal women had the highest odds of having breast cancer (adjusted OR 14.30, 95% CI: 3.80–53.78, p<0.001), followed by postmenopausal women (adjusted OR 4.50, 95% CI: 1.74–11.63, p=0.002). The ACR breast density categories B and C were significantly associated with microcalcifications but not independently with breast cancer. Conclusion:: Mammographic microcalcifications are strong independent predictors of breast cancer, particularly among peri- and postmenopausal women, highlighting their clinical value in risk stratification and diagnostic evaluation.
SN - 1513-7368
SN - 2476-762X
ER -