Women who get mammograms in Maryland may now see a new line in their results letter. A state law that took effect Oct. 1 requires mammography centers to tell patients when the scan shows breast arterial calcification, or BAC, a buildup of calcium in the breast's blood vessels that research has linked to higher heart disease risk.
Maryland is the first state to enact this kind of reporting requirement, according to Radiology Business. The finding is common, does not signal breast cancer, and does not by itself diagnose heart disease. It is meant to prompt a conversation with a doctor.
