Mammography 

Today

Questions and

Answers for

Patients on 

Being Informed

Consumers

v. 020800
Mammography 

Today

Questions and

Answers for

Patients on 

Being Informed

Consumers

v. 020800
This information gives me confidence about

the quality of my facility. How else does MQSA

help me?

The law also aims to improve communication

between you and your facility. As a result of MQSA,

your facility must:

• ask if you have breast implants before performing

your mammogram,

• send you your mammogram results,

• transfer your original mammograms upon your

request to you or to a facility or doctor you 

specify, and

• address your concerns.

From the time you make a mammogram appointment to the time you get the results, you should

understand what is happening and be sure that your

questions are answered. The more you know, the

better you can care for your own breast health.

What if I have breast implants?

When you call your facility to schedule a mammogram, tell them that you have breast implants. If

your facility doesn’t accept patients with implants,

ask if they can give you the name of a facility that

does. When you arrive for the exam, remind facility

staff you have implants and will need a technologist

trained in x-raying patients with implants. This is important because breast implants can hide some breast

tissue, which could make it difficult for the radiologist

to see breast cancer when looking at your mammograms. If the technologist taking your mammograms

knows you have implants before performing the

exam, she will make sure that as much breast tissue

as possible can be seen on your mammograms.

How will I get the results of my mammogram?

Your facility will give you the results of your mammogram in easy-to-understand language. It will give

you these results at the time of your appointment

or may choose to mail the results. If mailed, the

letter containing your results must be sent within 30

days of your mammogram. The facility also will

send your doctor a medical report of your mammogram results.

I thought “no news was good news.” Wouldn’t

my doctor let me know if there was a problem?

Although the results of most mammograms are normal,

don’t assume that no news means that there are no

problems. It is very important that you get the results

of your mammogram. If you don’t receive them within

30 days of your mammogram, call your mammography facility or doctor and ask for them.

If I don’t have a doctor, who receives the 

medical version of my report?

In this case, your facility will send you both reports

of your mammogram results—the version in easy-tounderstand language and the medical version. If

your facility thinks you should see a doctor, its staff

will let you know and can recommend one.

If I change facilities or need a second opinion,

do I need my mammograms?

Good question! The answer is yes, but be sure they

are originals—not copies. By law, you are entitled to

your original mammograms. A doctor needs to compare past mammograms with current ones to see if

there have been any changes, and original mammoThis information gives me confidence about

the quality of my facility. How else does MQSA

help me?

The law also aims to improve communication

between you and your facility. As a result of MQSA,

your facility must:

• ask if you have breast implants before performing

your mammogram,

• send you your mammogram results,

• transfer your original mammograms upon your

request to you or to a facility or doctor you 

specify, and

• address your concerns.

From the time you make a mammogram appointment to the time you get the results, you should

understand what is happening and be sure that your

questions are answered. The more you know, the

better you can care for your own breast health.

What if I have breast implants?

When you call your facility to schedule a mammogram, tell them that you have breast implants. If

your facility doesn’t accept patients with implants,

ask if they can give you the name of a facility that

does. When you arrive for the exam, remind facility

staff you have implants and will need a technologist

trained in x-raying patients with implants. This is important because breast implants can hide some breast

tissue, which could make it difficult for the radiologist

to see breast cancer when looking at your mammograms. If the technologist taking your mammograms

knows you have implants before performing the

exam, she will make sure that as much breast tissue

as possible can be seen on your mammograms.

How will I get the results of my mammogram?

Your facility will give you the results of your mammogram in easy-to-understand language. It will give

you these results at the time of your appointment

or may choose to mail the results. If mailed, the

letter containing your results must be sent within 30

days of your mammogram. The facility also will

send your doctor a medical report of your mammogram results.

I thought “no news was good news.” Wouldn’t

my doctor let me know if there was a problem?

Although the results of most mammograms are normal,

don’t assume that no news means that there are no

problems. It is very important that you get the results

of your mammogram. If you don’t receive them within

30 days of your mammogram, call your mammography facility or doctor and ask for them.

If I don’t have a doctor, who receives the 

medical version of my report?

In this case, your facility will send you both reports

of your mammogram results—the version in easy-tounderstand language and the medical version. If

your facility thinks you should see a doctor, its staff

will let you know and can recommend one.

If I change facilities or need a second opinion,

do I need my mammograms?

Good question! The answer is yes, but be sure they

are originals—not copies. By law, you are entitled to

your original mammograms. A doctor needs to compare past mammograms with current ones to see if

there have been any changes, and original mammo