skin calcification in breast

Skin calcifications in the breast usually form in dermal sweat glands after low grade folliculitis and inspissation of sebaceous material. Calcifications may also form in moles and other skin lesions.  Often, these calcifications are in groups as they extend into small glands in the skin. Occasionally, tangential views are performed to verify that questionable calcifications are located in the skin.

Pathology

Dermal calcifications are usually related to a chronic inflammatory process such as folliculitis.

Radiographic features

Mammography

• are often of round or oval shape
• can have lucent centers
• they may maintain the same relationship to each other on multiple mammographic views this appearance is called the tattoo sign 
• tangential view may be required to confirm dermal origin
• have a lacelike pattern when associated with moles
• they tend to be widely scattered

Differential diagnosis

• consider artifactual breast calcification on skin from deodorants

Siehe auch:

• Verkalkungen in der Mammographie
• artifacts that mimic breast calcification