Maryland becomes first state to require breast arterial calcification reporting on mammograms

Maryland is first state to require mammography notification of breast arterial calcifications (BAC), opportunistically flagging cardiovascular risk without extra radiation or cost. BAC is linked to cardiovascular disease but not an imminent event.

• Maryland's law took effect Oct. 1 and is the first state to require women be notified about BAC identified on mammograms.
• BAC reflects medial arterial calcification and is associated with cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke; it differs from coronary artery calcification.
• Patient notification should not cause alarm about breast cancer or imminent cardiovascular events, and absence of BAC does not prove low cardiovascular risk.

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