Beyond the Basics: What Your Mammogram Results Really Mean

Getting a mammogram each year is an important step toward protecting your health. While most people think of mammogram results as simply “normal” or “abnormal,” your report contains more detailed information about your breast health and what follow-up care you might need.  

Our women’s health experts at Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska, want you to feel confident about understanding your results. Beyond the basics, here’s what you should know.

Why mammograms are important

Mammograms are a health screening for breast cancer. It’s a breast X-ray that helps find abnormal breast tissue before you have symptoms.

Breast cancer is both the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. Routine mammogram screenings save lives by detecting abnormalities early when it’s more responsive to treatment. Breast cancer death rates in the United States have declined thanks in part to mammograms.

After your screening appointment, a radiologist reviews the images, comparing them to previous images if available, to determine your results and write a detailed report of their findings.

What a mammogram report includes

While you may receive a summary letter with basic results, your full mammogram report offers a more in-depth look. It typically includes two key pieces of information: 

BI-RADS® score

The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) is a standardized scoring tool radiologists use to categorize results and guide next steps. Scores range from zero to six:

• Category 0: Incomplete and more imaging needed
• Category 1: Negative or normal
• Category 2: Benign abnormalities identified
• Category 3: Probably benign, but follow-up needed
• Category 4: Suspicious findings, but likely not cancer
• Category 5: Highly suspicious for cancer
• Category 6: Known breast cancer diagnosed by biopsy

Routine mammogram screenings usually result in scores from zero to two, while diagnostic mammograms may give scores in any category.

Breast density score

Breast density describes how much fibrous and glandular tissue you have compared to fatty tissue. Denser breast tissue makes it harder to find abnormalities. Breast density levels include: 

• Category A: Mostly fatty tissue, not dense
• Category B: Scattered areas of fibrous and glandular tissue
• Category C: Mostly dense tissue
• Category D: Very dense tissue

It’s not unusual to have dense breast tissue, but your provider may order follow-up imaging, such as ultrasound.

What your mammogram results mean

Results from a mammogram are normal or abnormal. Normal results mean the radiologist didn’t find any unusual tissue or areas of concern. While you may breathe a sigh of relief, it’s important to continue your breast self-exams and routine mammogram screenings that monitor changes over time.

Abnormal results mean the radiologist found one or more areas of concern and follow-up care is recommended. However, this result doesn’t automatically mean you have breast cancer.

When you need follow-up care

You need follow-up care following a mammogram if your results are abnormal, unclear, or difficult to determine due to breast density. We may first request additional imaging such as a diagnostic mammogram, 3D mammogram, or an ultrasound. 

If these imaging studies find any solid mass, we do a biopsy to look for cancer cells. 

Our team carefully reviews your report with you so you fully understand the findings and next steps for your care.

If you’re 40 or older and you haven’t had a mammogram, or if it’s been more than two years since your last screening, it’s time to schedule one. At Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, we offer mammograms at our Grand Island office and can guide you every step of the way. 

Call us today or request your mammogram appointment online. Protecting breast health starts with regular screening.