Many elderly people will see the hints of "nodules have calcified" and "cysts with calcification" in the physical examination report, and they will inevitably wonder: does calcification mean that the condition is stable, or is there a hidden danger?

In fact, calcification is not a simple concept, it can be both a scar left by the body's self-repair and a signal of disease progression, the key is how we correctly understand this phenomenon, and deal with it scientifically to manage it, and coexist amicably with calcification.

How calcification occurs

Calcification is a pathological process in which calcium phosphate is abnormally deposited in extraosseous tissues. Studies have found that this is a biological process actively regulated by the human body, rather than passively precipitated. For example, in blood vessels, smooth muscle cells in the blood vessel wall will change their functional properties after being stimulated, converted into osteoblast-specific transcription factors, and secrete stromal vesicles to initiate calcium salt deposition; In nodules and cysts, calcification is mostly associated with repair after tissue necrosis, and necrotic tissue fragments become the core, and calcium salts are more likely to be deposited on them.

Several common types of calcifications

The location and form of calcification are different, and the meaning of its representatives is also very different, mainly the following types.

Vascular calcification is the type that requires the most vigilance. Calcium salts are deposited on the blood vessel wall, like water pipe scaling, which will make blood vessels hard and brittle, increasing the risk of hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

Intranodal calcification is common in nodules in the lungs, thyroid and other parts. Coarse, ring-shaped calcifications are often benign markers, mostly scars left after inflammation heals, while small, sand-like cluster calcifications should be wary of malignant possibilities.

Cyst wall calcification Calcification of the cyst wall of liver cysts and kidney cysts is mostly due to long-term irritation and is usually benign.

Heart valve calcification As we age, the heart valves will undergo degenerative changes, which can lead to valve opening and closing smoothly, which can lead to calcification.

Why it often occurs in the elderly

The occurrence of calcification stems from the overwhelming of "anticalcification" factors in the body. For example, chronic inflammation, tissue damage, especially mineral metabolism disorders (such as hyperphosphatemia caused by chronic kidney disease) can accelerate calcium salt deposition. At the same time, natural substances that inhibit calcification in the body, such as matrix Gla protein, decrease with age, disrupting the balance between the two.

After the blood vessels and other tissues of the elderly gradually age, they are more likely to "hang scale". Most older people have underlying medical conditions, which can also promote calcification. Decreased renal function leads to poor phosphorus excretion and blood phosphorus is easily elevated. The chronic mild inflammatory state associated with aging can also provide a continuous breeding ground for calcification.

Pay attention to calcifications in different parts

Breast calcification: Be wary of "cluster small calcifications".

Breast calcifications are mostly benign, but small, irregularly shaped and clustered microcalcifications are closely related to early breast cancer. If there are indications such as "clustered, small, irregular or branched" on the examination report, further evaluation should be carried out under the guidance of a breast specialist and should not be ignored.

Thyroid calcification: Identify risks by looking at "size".

The ultrasound features of thyroid nodules determine their risk size. Microcalcifications are often associated with thyroid cancer, but there is no need to panic when you see the words "microcalcification", and the doctor will use an ultrasound examination to assess whether further treatment is needed. If the calcification is relatively large, it is usually reassuring, which is mostly related to benign diseases.

Calcification of lung nodules: benign and malignant from the perspective of "morphology".

If the lung nodules are calcified like "onion skin" or "popcorn", they are usually benign and are more common in old granulomas and hamartomas. However, if it is eccentric, scattered spots, or atypical calcification, you should be vigilant. Lung calcifications are mostly related to old diseases, such as scarring from old tuberculosis. If the calcification is irregular, further examination is necessary to rule out the possibility of lung cancer and other diseases.

Cardiovascular calcification: related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.

Vascular calcification is closely related to arteriosclerosis, heart disease and other diseases. Calcification of blood vessels or valves is the cumulative ledger of arteriosclerosis. Studies have shown that people with severe vascular calcification have a significantly increased risk of developing heart disease in the future. Therefore, people with cardiovascular calcification should control blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, and evaluate whether medication is needed for prevention.

Calcification in other common areas: Don't panic in these situations.

Hepatic hemangiomas are often found on physical examination and usually do not need to be treated as long as the imaging findings are typical. In some cases, "phlebothic"-like punctate calcification can be seen, which mostly indicates old changes after fibrosis. Prostate calcification is not a specific marker of prostate cancer. Pathological and imaging studies suggest that calcification is also common in benign prostate disease, but patients with dysuria and abnormal digital rectal examination should be further evaluated.