Mammograms can indicate a higher risk of heart disease through breast arterial calcification (BAC), but this information isn't routinely shared with patients in most states. Recent studies show women with visible BAC on mammograms are 51% more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke compared to those without it. Maryland became the first state to require radiologists to notify patients about BAC findings at no extra cost, though some medical professionals caution that there isn't yet a clear clinical pathway for how to use this information effectively.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
But that scan may reveal more than just how the girls are doing.
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girls → reveal → more
A growing body of research suggests these routine images can also offer subtle clues about heart disease — the leading cause of death among US women.
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images → grow → women
And yet, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard about it.
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you → ’ → it
That’s probably because, in most parts of the country, doctors aren’t required to tell patients when their mammogram shows signs of breast arterial calcification.
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mammogram → ’ → calcification
Also known as BAC, the condition occurs when calcium builds up in the middle layer of the breast’s arterial walls.
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calcium → know → walls
Traditionally, it’s been viewed as little more than an incidental finding on mammograms.
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it → view → mammograms
Several recent studies, though, have linked BAC to a higher risk of experiencing cardiovascular events down the road.
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studies → link → road
In 2022, researchers in California found that women with BAC visible on their mammograms were 51% more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than those without it.
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women → find → it
They were also 23% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease of any kind, including heart disease, stroke, heart failure and disease affecting the peripheral arteries.
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They → develop → arteries
In April, a study of 21,514 women found that the more BAC a woman had compared with others her age, the higher her subsequent risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 4.7 years.
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had → find → years
Importantly, having BAC does not mean a woman has heart disease or needs treatment.
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woman → have → treatment
Instead, researchers say it may serve as another clue that someone could be more likely to develop problems later in life.
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someone → say → life
“We know that women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages of cardiovascular disease and have worse outcomes following a heart attack compared to men,” Matthew Nudy, an assistant professor at Penn State College of Medicine who was involved in the 2026 study, said in a press release.
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who → know → release
“That may be in part because the current cardiovascular risk assessment tools underestimate risk in women.
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tools → underestimate → women
We need better tools.”
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We → need → tools
“In the future, assessment of breast arterial calcification may help improve our ability to predict risk and prevent cardiovascular disease.
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assessment → help → disease
One state has already taken notice.
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state → take → notice
On Oct. 1, Maryland became the first — and so far only — state to require radiologists to notify patients when BAC is spotted on a mammogram, at no additional cost.
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BAC → become → cost
“I’m so glad Maryland jumped in and made the first move [for BAC reporting], and I suspect [other states] are going to follow suit,” Tahira Ahmed, a breast radiologist and medical director of breast imaging for the Maryland imaging network of RadNet, told the Washington Post.
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states → ’m → Post
While the Maryland Radiological Society supported the law, a group of Johns Hopkins breast radiologists opposed it, arguing that the legislation is premature — even while acknowledging the growing research linking BAC to cardiovascular disease.
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legislation → support → disease
There’s still no established clinical pathway telling doctors exactly what to do when BAC is found.
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BAC → ’ → what
They also warned that the mandate could distract from mammography’s primary job — detecting breast cancer — and potentially lead to unnecessary testing or anxiety.
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mandate → warn → testing
Still, some doctors argue that patients deserve to know.
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patients → argue → ?
“Women can handle scary news,” Dr. Nina Vincoff, Northwell Health’s breast imaging division chief told Applied Radiology last October, though she was not commenting specifically on the Maryland law.
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she → handle → law
“They’d rather hear it and act on it than be shielded and miss the chance to prevent a heart attack.”
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They → hear → attack
That’s more than all forms of cancer combined — yet fewer than half of women recognize heart disease as their greatest health threat, according to the American Heart Association.
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half → ’ → Association
And it’s not just a disease of older women.
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it → ’ → women
Nearly 45% of women ages 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, while fewer than half of women entering pregnancy in the US have good cardiovascular health.
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half → live → health
The Aporia
