Mammograms Offer New Insight into Heart Health

By Tracy Short, director of ambulatory outpatient imaging, Sarah Moorman, MD and Diane Angerson, DO

Providers across Premier Health may begin noticing updated language in screening mammography reports related to breast arterial (vascular) calcifications (BAC). This enhancement reflects a new quality measure and an important step forward in supporting whole-person care for our patients.

What’s Changing?

A 2026 quality measure now requires radiologists to document the presence or absence of breast arterial calcifications on screening mammograms for patients age 40 and older. Reports will also include a brief statement on clinical relevance, helping to provide additional context for both providers and patients.

Why It Matters

Breast arterial calcifications are a common, benign finding seen incidentally on mammography and are not related to breast cancer. However, growing evidence shows a strong association between BAC and cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, independent of traditional risk factors.

Because cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women, this update creates an opportunity to use an existing screening exam to:

• Identify potential cardiovascular risk earlier
• Provide added value without additional testing or cost
• Support more proactive, coordinated care between radiology and primary care

Clinical Considerations

The presence of BAC is not urgent and does not indicate acute disease. However, it may serve as a helpful data point when evaluating overall cardiovascular risk. Providers may consider:

• Incorporating BAC as an additional risk marker
• Reinforcing routine risk factor screening and management (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, lifestyle) 
• Using clinical judgment to determine whether further cardiovascular evaluation is appropriate

Supporting Patient Conversations

Patients may have questions about this new language. Providers can reassure them that:

• BAC findings are common and incidental
• They are not cancer and do not increase breast cancer risk
• They may offer helpful insight into heart health, with follow-up guided by their primary care provider

This update reflects Premier Health’s continued commitment to advancing preventive care and leveraging existing tools to improve patient outcomes. By connecting imaging findings with broader health insights, we are better supporting the long-term health of the communities we serve.

Back to the June 2026 Premier Pulse