What happens after my mammogram?

Patient Information Factsheet

One-Stop breast clinic

• Patients with breast pain or other breast symptoms go to the breast clinic after being referred by a GP or another healthcare professional.
• After being checked by a Surgeon, you may have a mammogram. This gives a clear overview of the breast tissue.
• This will take place in the Whittington Hospital's imaging department.
• A Radiologist (a specialist imaging doctor) will read the images immediately after your mammogram.
• They will decide if any extra images are needed. These can include:
  • Close-up images of a specific area, especially where there are tiny spots of calcium.
  • Breast tomosynthesis takes many pictures of the breast and makes a 3-D image. This helps the Radiologist to find if there are any areas of the breast that are denser.
  • Images from a different angle.
• An ultrasound scan may also be requested by the Surgeon.
• This will be done after the mammograms.
• The Radiologist will look at all the information from that day.
• They will then tell you what they think before you leave.
• All the mammogram images will be checked by a second Radiologist within the next week.
• This is done as an extra safety check to reduce the risk of missing any changes in the breast.
• If the second Radiologist agrees with the first report, there will be no further contact with the imaging department.
• Occasionally, the second Radiologist will need to take a closer look at a particular area of the breast.
• You will then be contacted by the imaging team and a time arranged for you to come back for some more images to be taken.
• We try to do this within two weeks of the first appointment.

Annual follow-up patients

• Patients who have had breast cancer before, or other breast problems, will come to the department for a mammogram once a year.
• This is usually for the next 5-10 years and depends upon the original diagnosis.
• Patients will receive an appointment letter to come into the Whittington Hospital's imaging department.
• After the mammogram is performed the patient can leave the department.
• Over the next 10 days, the mammogram images will be checked by two Radiologists (specialist imaging doctors) separately.
• If the Radiologists are happy that there is nothing to worry about, the results will go directly to the breast Surgeon.
• The results will be given at the next follow-up clinic appointment or by letter for patients on the remote monitoring pathway.
• If the Radiologists would like a closer look at any area of the breast, the patient will be contacted by the imaging department within 14 days.
• Additional views may include:
  • Magnified images of a certain area, particularly areas containing calcium flecks.
  • Breast tomosynthesis, which takes many images through the breast and creates a 3-D appearance. This allows the Radiologist to scroll through the glandular tissue identifying any denser areas.
  • Images from a different angle.
  • Extended images of the standard views.
  • Ultrasound scan of the breast tissue.
• If any of these views are required, the patient will be contacted within 14 days of having the original mammogram.

Contact our service

Tel.: 020 7288 5888, Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Email: whh-tr.ImagingAppointments-WhittHealth@nhs.net