Breast arterial calcification in women with permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism: a case-control study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) has been reported to cause calcifications in multiple organs over the long term. This study evaluated breast arterial calcification (BAC) in female patients who developed permanent hypoparathyroidism ( persisting for more than 12 months) after thyroidectomy. In this retrospective case–control study, 40 women with permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism (Po-HypoPT) were compared with 40 post-thyroidectomy women without hypoparathyroidism (control group). All mammograms were reviewed for the presence of parenchymal, ductal, and breast arterial calcification, and the BAC score was calculated in women with mammographically detected BAC. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, and menopausal status ( p = 0.784, p = 0.142, and p = 0.653, respectively). The median interval after thyroidectomy was 9.50 (6.00–15.00) years in the permanent Po-HypoPT group and 10.00 (8.00–15.75) years in the control group ( p = 0.354). The frequencies of parenchymal and ductal calcification did not differ between the permanent Po-HypoPT and control groups ( p = 1.000 and p = 0.241, respectively). In terms of BAC, the permanent Po-HypoPT group had more patients with BAC than the control group (12 [30.0%] and 3 [7.5%], respectively, p = 0.010; OR = 5.28, 95% CI: 1.36–20.53). The mean total BAC scores were 1.75 ± 2.99 in the permanent Po-HypoPT group and 0.32 ± 1.18 in the control group ( p = 0.008). In multivariable linear regression analysis, permanent Po-HypoPT emerged as a significant independent predictor of the total BAC score (β = 0.331, p = 0.006). Permanent Po-HypoPT was independently associated with an increased BAC burden, after adjustment for age, menopausal status, and metabolic risk factors. BAC assessment on routine mammography may represent a potential imaging marker of cardiovascular risk in this population. Given the modest sample size and the wide confidence interval of the effect estimate, these findings should be regarded as exploratory and require confirmation in larger, prospective studies. Not applicable.
Source: BMC Endocrine Disorders
Institution: Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W7203709225
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