Mammo+Heart Screening

Mammo+Heart is an AI screening tool for asymptomatic women between the ages of 40 and 89 that is performed during a regular mammogram. It provides accurate and reliable detection of breast arterial calcification. It is not intended to be a diagnostic test; however it is an indication of possible cardiovascular risk and may require patient action.

Yes, the breast arterial calcification detection and localization software Washington Radiology uses is FDA approved.

There is “strong evidence for an association between BAC (breast arterial calcification) and coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and increased risk of cardiovascular death.”1 Patients with this finding may be candidates for additional cardiovascular screening by their primary care physician or cardiologist.

Mammo+Heart AI software reads mammography images to determine the presence or absence of breast arterial calcification. An expert radiologist will review and sign off on these results.

Yes, multiple clinical studies have found significant correlation between the presence of breast arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease. One such study noted that women who had breast arterial calcification present on their mammogram were 51% more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke compared with women who did not have breast arterial calcification. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/mammograms-may-provide-clues-about-womens-risk-for-cardiovascular-disease

Another study on the relationship between breast arterial calcifications on mammograms and cardiovascular events stated that cardiovascular mortality increased by 40% in women with breast arterial calcification compared to women without it, reaching 90% in diabetic women. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9776346/

Your breast arterial calcification results will be sent to you by mail. These results will be separate from your screening mammogram.

We recommend that you consult with your primary care physician to determine if further cardiac evaluation is appropriate.

The absence of breast arterial calcification is not a guarantee that you do not have heart disease. The presence of other signs or symptoms should override your Mammo+Heart screening result.

If breast arterial calcification is present, we recommend you repeat the screening every two years. If it is not present, we recommend you have the screening performed every year with your annual mammogram.

You may opt in at the time of your mammogram appointment. A doctor’s order is not required.

Like many new healthcare products, Mammo+Heart is not currently covered by insurance. It has an out-of-pocket cost of $119, which may be paid for with your HSA or FSA account.