Monday 22nd October 2018

At The Harley Street Breast Clinic, our screening mammograms are read by two specialist Consultant Breast Radiologists. Once the result is ready, the outcome will be one of four options:

1: The vast majority of women who undergo screening mammograms receive completely normal results. A ‘normal’ result letter is sent in the post and these women can attend for their next screening mammogram after one year unless there are any changes noticed in either breast or under the arm (axillae).

2: A member of our team will phone the patient stating the mammogram result was ambiguous and further tests will be required. For example this can be due to movement during the test which causes blur on the mammogram. The mammogram position that was unclear will be repeated, an ultrasound may be done and a verbal result will be given to the patient once their tests are complete.

3: A member of our team will phone the patient stating that the breasts are probably healthy, but due to what are likely benign breast changes (e.g. cysts or fibrous breast tissue) the patient requires further testing. We will make an appointment for the patient to return to one of our one stop clinics in order to have all the tests required on the same day. The tests may include additional mammogram imaging and an ultrasound. They will receive a verbal result from the Consultant Radiologist once the tests are complete. This is the most common type of recall we have at The Harley Street Breast Clinic.

4: A member of our team will phone the patient if there is a worrying change or abnormality on the mammogram, asking the patient to return for further testing. We will make an appointment with the patient to return to one of our one stop clinics in order to have all the tests required to establish whether there has been a change in the breast. The tests may involve additional mammogram imaging, an ultrasound and possibly a biopsy. The patient will receive guidance from the Consultant Breast Surgeon about their results at the end of their appointment.

If you have been called to return to our clinic for further testing but are not sure what the next steps will be, please just phone The Harley Street Breast Clinic, and one of our team will explain what happens next.