A mammogram is read by specialist doctors, and in screening it's usually checked by two independently. Being called back for more tests is common (about 5–15% of screens) and usually doesn't mean cancer — it often just means they want a closer look. Dense breast tissue can make mammograms harder to read and sometimes prompts extra imaging. Your results are sent to you (and your doctor).
Key takeaways
- Screening mammograms are usually read independently by two doctors.
- A call-back is common and usually doesn't mean cancer.
- Dense breast tissue can make a mammogram harder to read.
- Results go to you and, for diagnostic mammograms, your referring doctor.
Waiting on a mammogram result — or being asked to come back — can be anxious. Here’s what’s actually happening.
How a mammogram is read
A mammogram is interpreted by specialist doctors. In the screening program, each mammogram is typically read independently by two readers to improve accuracy.[2] They compare your images with any previous mammograms to look for change. Reports often use a standardised score called BI-RADS, which grades the findings from “normal” to “highly suspicious” and guides what happens next.[1]
What a call-back means
Being called back for more tests after a screening mammogram is common — about 5–15% of screens — and usually doesn’t mean you have cancer.[1] Most often, the readers simply want a closer look at an area, with extra mammogram views or an ultrasound. Only a minority of call-backs lead to a biopsy, and most biopsies find no cancer.[1]
Dense breast tissue
Some people have dense breast tissue, which appears white on a mammogram — the same colour as many abnormalities — making the image harder to read, and slightly raising breast-cancer risk.[1] This can sometimes mean a call-back or additional imaging (like ultrasound). Density is common and is not itself a disease.
Getting your results
For a screening mammogram, your result is sent to you (and usually your doctor). For a diagnostic mammogram (done because of a symptom or referral), the radiologist reports to the doctor who referred you, who discusses what it means and any next steps.[3]
Frequently asked questions
I’ve been called back after my mammogram — do I have cancer?
Not necessarily — call-backs are common and usually aren’t cancer. It often just means the readers want a closer look with extra views or an ultrasound.[1]
What does “dense breasts” mean on a mammogram?
It means more glandular and fibrous tissue, which shows up white and can make the mammogram harder to read. It’s common, not a disease, but may prompt extra imaging.[1]
What is BI-RADS?
It’s a standard scoring system radiologists use to summarise a mammogram — from normal to suspicious — so everyone reads the report the same way and knows the recommended next step.[1]
Sources
- RadiologyInfo.org (RSNA & ACR) — Mammography (results & BI-RADS) — www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/mammo
- Cancer Council Australia — Breast cancer screening — www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/screening-tests-and-treatments/early-detection-and-screening/breast-cancer-screening
- healthdirect — Mammography — www.healthdirect.gov.au/mammography
