What is Monckeberg calcification?

Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis (MCS) is a ring-like calcification of the vascular media of small to medium sized vessels without associated intimal thickening. Almost exclusively, MCS is the underlying condition in what is referred to as breast arterial calcification (BAC) detected at mammography.

What causes medial calcification?

Medial calcifications, for example, are most often associated with kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, and advanced age. Intimal calcifications are associated with blocked arteries and blood clots.

What is medial arterial calcification?

Medial arterial calcification (MAC), also known as Mönckeberg arteriosclerosis, is a condition that leads to stiffening of the elastic layer of the arterial wall, but in contrast to intimal calcification, it does not obstruct the arterial lumen (2).

What causes calcification of vessels?

Vascular calcification is associated with atherosclerosis, diabetes, certain heredity conditions, and kidney disease, especially CKD. Patients with vascular calcification are at higher risk for adverse cardiovascular events. Vascular calcification affects a wide variety of patients.

What kind of calcific deposits are found in Monckeberg sclerosis?

Mönckeberg medial calcific sclerosis is characterised by calcific deposits within the media of medium and small muscular arteries that do not cause luminal narrowing. The calcification is typically diffuse and circumferential along the vessel and is readily visible on plain film.

Is the artery the only target of calcification?

Since its first description, Mönckeberg’s sclerosis has only been related to arterial media calcification, being listed among the primary diseases of the vessels.

How is the diagnosis of Monckeberg’s arteriosclerosis made?

Diagnosis. Often Mönckeberg’s arteriosclerosis is discovered as an incidental finding in an X-ray radiograph, on mammograms, in autopsy, or in association with investigation of some other disease, such as diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. Typically calcification is observed in the arteries of the upper and lower limb…

What kind of calcification is found on mammography?

Mönckeberg medial calcific sclerosis is characterised by calcific deposits within the media of medium and small muscular arteries that do not cause luminal narrowing. The calcification is typically diffuse and circumferential along the vessel and is readily visible on plain film. Vascular calcification in the breast on mammography is of this type.