Indicators of systemic disease on mammography.

In addition to breast cancer and other conditions limited to the breast, mammograms sometimes reveal signs of systemic disease. These signs include breast arterial calcifications, axillary lymphadenopathy, dilated veins in the breast, breast edema and skin thickening, and masses not associated with cancer or a benign breast condition. This article discusses the indicators of systemic disease seen on mammograms and some of the many diseases they may signify. Several case studies are presented.