Calcification: Types, Causes, And Diagnosis - Healthline

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Calcification

Medically reviewed by William C Lloyd III, MD, FACS — Written by Kristeen Moore — Updated on May 22, 2023

Types
Causes
Diagnosis
Breast calcifications
Treatment
Prevention
Outlook
Bottom line

Calcification happens when calcium builds up in tissue, blood vessels, or organs, causing them to harden. Treatment will depend on the severity and location of the calcification and can range from medication to surgery.

Calcification happens when calcium builds up in body tissue, blood vessels, or organs. This buildup can harden and disrupt your body’s natural processes.

Calcium is transported through the bloodstream. It’s also found in every cell. As a result, calcification can occur in almost any part of the body.

According to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine), about 99% of your body’s calcium is in your teeth and bones. The other 1% is in the blood, muscles, fluid outside the cells, and other body tissues.

Some disorders cause calcium to deposit where it doesn’t typically belong. Over time, this can add up and cause problems. You may need treatment to prevent complications if you have this extra calcium buildup.

Types of calcification

Calcifications can form in many places throughout your body, including:

small and large arteries
heart valves
brain, where it’s known as cranial calcification
joints and tendons, such as knee joints and rotator cuff tendons
soft tissues like breasts, muscles, and fat
kidney, bladder, and gallbladder

Some calcium buildup is harmless. These deposits are believed to be the body’s response to inflammation, injury, or certain biological processes. But some calcifications can disrupt organ function and affect blood vessels.

According to the Division of Cardiology at UCLA School of Medicine, most adults older than 60 have calcium deposits in their blood vessels.

Causes of calcification

Many factors play a role in calcification, including:

infections
calcium metabolism disorders that cause hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood)
genetic or autoimmune disorders affecting the skeletal system and connective tissues
persistent inflammation

According to Harvard University, a common misconception is that calcifications are caused by a calcium-rich diet. But researchers haven’t found a link between dietary calcium and a higher risk for calcium deposits.

This is also true for kidney stones. Most kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate. People who get calcium oxalate stones release more calcium in their urine than those who don’t. This disparity happens no matter how much calcium people have in their diets.

Diagnosing calcification

Calcifications are usually found via X-rays. X-ray tests use electromagnetic radiation to take pictures of your internal organs and usually cause no discomfort. Your doctor will likely detect any calcification issues right away with X-rays.

Your doctor may also order blood tests. For example, if you have kidney stones, these tests can determine your overall kidney function.

Sometimes calcium deposits are found in areas of cancer. Calcification is usually tested to rule out cancer as a cause.

A doctor will order a biopsy (often through a fine needle) to collect a tissue sample. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing. If no cancer cells are detected, your doctor will label the calcification as benign.

Breast calcifications

Breast calcifications occur when calcium builds up within the soft tissue of the breast. There are two main types of breast calcifications: macrocalcifications (large calcium buildups) and microcalcifications (small calcium buildups).

According to the National Cancer Institute, macrocalcifications in the breasts are most common in women over 50 years old. Men can get breast calcifications, too, but it’s not as common.

Breast calcifications happen for several reasons. Breast injuries, cell secretions, infections, and inflammation can cause breast calcifications. You might also get calcifications if you’ve had breast cancer or radiation therapy for cancer.

Most breast calcifications aren’t cancerous. This is especially true for macrocalcifications.

Microcalcifications are often not cancerous, but some microcalcification patterns may be signs of early breast cancer.

Breast calcifications are too small to be found during a regular breast exam. Your doctor usually spots these deposits during a mammogram of your breast tissue. Your doctor may ask you to schedule a follow-up appointment if any calcifications need to be checked again.

Your doctor may also take a biopsy to test calcifications that might be suspicious-looking. And your doctor may suggest minor surgery to remove calcifications to look at them more closely.

Getting regular mammograms at an appropriate age can help track breast calcifications if they’re present. The earlier breast changes of concern are discovered, the more likely you will have a positive outcome.

Treating calcification

Calcification treatment depends on several factors:

Where do the calcium deposits occur?
What is their underlying cause?
What, if any, complications arise?

Your doctor will require regular follow-up appointments to check for potential complications once calcifications have been found. Minor artery calcifications aren’t considered dangerous.

Heart valves can also develop calcifications. In this case, you may need surgery to open or replace the valve if the calcium buildup is severe enough to affect the valve’s function.

Kidney stone treatments help break down calcium buildup in the kidneys. Your doctor may prescribe a diuretic called thiazide to help prevent future calcium kidney stones. This diuretic signals the kidneys to release urine while holding on to more calcium.

Calcium deposits in your joints and tendons don’t always cause painful symptoms, but they can affect your range of motion and cause discomfort. Treatments may include taking anti-inflammatory medicines and applying ice packs. If the pain doesn’t go away, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Preventing calcifications

If you’re over 65 years old, see a doctor regularly for blood tests to evaluate your calcium levels along with other tests.

If you’re under 65 years old and were born with a heart defect or kidney-related issues, calcifications can be more common for you than for others your age. If you know of any of these conditions, ask a doctor about getting tested for calcifications.

Some medications can affect your body’s calcium levels. Cholesterol, blood pressure, and hormone replacement therapy are common medications that affect how calcium is used in your body.

Talk with your doctor if you’re taking any of these medications or having related treatments to understand the effects of these treatments on your calcium levels.

If you frequently take calcium carbonate supplements (such as Tums), you risk raising your calcium to high levels. Problems with the kidney or the parathyroid (four small glands on the back of the thyroid) can also cause calcium levels in your blood to rise too high.

The amount of calcium you need per day is based on your age. Talk with a doctor about what dose of calcium is right for you based on your age, gender, and other health issues.

Smoking is associated with increased calcifications in the heart and major arteries. As smoking is a major risk factor for developing heart disease, these calcifications may also play a role.

Overall, quitting smoking has both short- and long-term benefits, especially for your heart, blood vessels, and brain.

There is no proven way to prevent calcifications, as they result from various biological processes. Quitting smoking and changing diet may impact the formation of calcifications, depending on the location of the buildup.

Kidney stones may form less often with certain dietary changes. Talk with a doctor about ways to incorporate a healthy diet into your lifestyle.

Outlook for calcification

Calcifications don’t cause symptoms on their own. They’re often detected when X-rays are being done for other reasons. Talk with a doctor if you have any underlying health problems. For example, you may be susceptible to calcifications if you have heart disease, kidney disease, or if you smoke.

Your outlook depends on the location and severity of the calcifications. Hardened calcium deposits can interrupt vital processes in the brain and heart. Calcifications in your blood vessels can lead to coronary heart disease.

You and your doctor can discuss the best ways to manage the health issues that may put you at risk for calcifications.

The bottom line

Calcification is a buildup of calcium in body tissue. The buildup can form hardened deposits in soft tissues, arteries, and other areas.

Some calcifications don’t cause painful symptoms, while others can lead to severe complications. Treatment depends on the location, severity, and underlying cause of the deposits.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Calcium: Fact sheet for health professionals. (2022).http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium-HealthProfessional/
Çiftçioğlu N, et al. (2010). Pathological calcification and replicating calcifying-nanoparticles: General approach and correlation.https://www.nature.com/articles/pr201089
Demer LL, et al. (2008). Vascular calcification: Pathobiology of a multifaceted disease.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/circulationaha.107.743161
Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride. (1997).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK109827/
Glassman LM. (2009). Pathology of the male breast.https://radiologyassistant.nl/breast/male-breast/pathology-of-the-male-breast
Jairam PM, et al. (2013). Impact of cardiovascular calcifications on the detrimental effect of continued smoking on cardiovascular risk in male lung cancer screening participants.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3688769/
Soft tissue calcifications. (n.d.).https://rad.washington.edu/about-us/academic-sections/musculoskeletal-radiology/teaching-materials/online-musculoskeletal-radiology-book/soft-tissue-calcifications/
Understanding breast changes: A health guide. (2014).https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-changes/understanding-breast-changes.pdf

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Medically reviewed by William C Lloyd III, MD, FACS — Written by Kristeen Moore — Updated on May 22, 2023

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