request from imaging center for second mammogram

[Anonymous]

I had a 3-D mammogram last week, and received a letter in the mail requesting that I return for a follow-up scan of one breast. A "special view mammogram."

Anyone else had this happen?

[Anonymous]

presumably you had a regular mammo in addition to the 3D? its required. so it means that there was a finding on the regular mammo that the 3D couldn't resolve as being normal so you will now go in for additional mammo pictures called a diagnostic mammo. happens often, usually its nothing!

[Anonymous]

Yup, this happened to me, and everything was fine. GL, OP.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I think I had a 3-D mammo because that is all they do at my hospital. So now they have asked me back for another "special view" one. I will get that done this week, and will post again. I hope it is nothing. The tech at my first mammo said I had "dense" breasts. Huh?

I was surprised to get this request to return for a second mammo in the mail.

[Anonymous]

I just got a letter like this as well after last week's mammogram (2-D) and am freaking out!

[Anonymous]

It happened to me this summer after the regular plus 3d. The 2nd one did nit clarify things and i had to have a biopsy, which was negative. It was very nerve wracking, but ended ok. I hope it is okay for you too.
PS they told me the 3d view was not what precipitated the callback, but I wonder if they are responsible for a lot of repeats.

[Anonymous]

Check the billing and find out if you are paying for the second one. I knew my first mammogram was not done properly - didn't hurt enough, normally they have me wait, this tech didn't (lots of breast cancer in my family). I asked the tech. at the time if she had gotten good pictures because it didn't feel right. Then I get a call from my gyn. saying had I received a call from the radiology clinic. I hadn't - she said, as I knew, that they had made a mistake - there was a "flap of tissue". So I went back wondering for a week if this was now THE BIG ONE and it was my turn for breast cancer. I was fine. But jerk radiology clinic bills me for both. I insisted, as did my gyn., that they had admitted that they had not got good film the first time. Radiology clinic kept sending me bills. I kept explaining (new manager every time) that they had made the error - I should not pay for two. The manager would agree. Nothing. Next thing I know I was referred to a collection agency. So my gyn. and I wrote letters and that was the end of that. She is now using a different clinic. So be careful. I think often these second recalls are mistakes of the tech. originally, and it's an easy money maker for the radiology clinic, esp. since the second mammogram was not covered by insurance. Call and get the specifics from your gyn. first. Ask him or her why you are getting the call back.

[Anonymous]

She is now using a different clinic. So be careful. I think often these second recalls are mistakes of the tech. originally, and it's an easy money maker for the radiology clinic, esp. since the second mammogram was not covered by insurance. Call and get the specifics from your gyn. first. Ask him or her why you are getting the call back.

I know it's a longshot that this poster is still around, but I'm wondering which clinic you're talking about. I have received notice that my mammogram "requires supplementary imaging studies" with no specific reasoning, and that "further charges may apply." Being furloughed at the moment and unable to figure out if my insuance will cover it, I'm inclined to skip this second screening until I can get a paycheck again, but the additional uncertainty and anxiety is too much to bear.

I should be grateful that I can get any screening at all, but I'm feeling cynical these days. It's the second time in two years that Ive been called back for a second screening at this clinic and part of me wonders if it isn't an easy racket for them. Who would ignore the notice to come in a second time?

After my first call-back screening, I was sent to wait in a small, windowless room with a box of tissues and pamphlets on cancer. When the doctor came in 30 minutes later and explained that they always do a second imaging on the first mammogram to make a baseline comparison, I felt so angry. Why couldn't they just put that into the form letter they sent, instead of sending me into a panic? The rest of her talk sounded like a promotion for their 3D imaging--which was of course what they used (and charged me) for that second screening.

This is just a vent because it's not practical to protest mammograms, but I'm wondering if this second screening biz is more common than necessary

[Anonymous]

When Washington Radiology called me for a callback, they first had to call my doctor and explain what they saw to justify they callback. My doctor said they need to do this since it would be a conflict of interest if they could just callback for any reason. I have had callbacks twice before and it was nothing. This time is was cancer but was caught very, very early. When you go for the callback they give you the results right then. Most callbacks are benign. Good-luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

She is now using a different clinic. So be careful. I think often these second recalls are mistakes of the tech. originally, and it's an easy money maker for the radiology clinic, esp. since the second mammogram was not covered by insurance. Call and get the specifics from your gyn. first. Ask him or her why you are getting the call back.

I know it's a longshot that this poster is still around, but I'm wondering which clinic you're talking about. I have received notice that my mammogram "requires supplementary imaging studies" with no specific reasoning, and that "further charges may apply." Being furloughed at the moment and unable to figure out if my insuance will cover it, I'm inclined to skip this second screening until I can get a paycheck again, but the additional uncertainty and anxiety is too much to bear.

I should be grateful that I can get any screening at all, but I'm feeling cynical these days. It's the second time in two years that Ive been called back for a second screening at this clinic and part of me wonders if it isn't an easy racket for them. Who would ignore the notice to come in a second time?

After my first call-back screening, I was sent to wait in a small, windowless room with a box of tissues and pamphlets on cancer. When the doctor came in 30 minutes later and explained that they always do a second imaging on the first mammogram to make a baseline comparison, I felt so angry. Why couldn't they just put that into the form letter they sent, instead of sending me into a panic? The rest of her talk sounded like a promotion for their 3D imaging--which was of course what they used (and charged me) for that second screening.

This is just a vent because it's not practical to protest mammograms, but I'm wondering if this second screening biz is more common than necessary

12:54, I am back! (8:26). Lots of breast cancer in my family so I check for this issue frequently. Yes, I still think (as does my gyn.) that this is a money-making gambit for the radiology clinics. My flawed one (done after many years at the same place) wa Fairfax Radiology, on Arlington Blvd, in Fairfax, but they have 8 centers, which is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to resolve anything with them. Do as I did and get your gyn. or whichever doctor ordered the mammogram involved and ask them to find out what is going on. I went through a week of hell thinking this was the big one even though I was sure they had made a mistake (which they had) during the initial mammogram. My husband even went with me on a Saturday and because my gyn. had made a big fuss, they had a doctor there actually come out and do additional physical and other tests just to make sure. Then i was charged for the second round of testing. Every time I received a bill, I called to complain that the first test was done inappropriately. I should have sent certified letters but just didn't have time. Also, every single time they would call to say I owed money, I was talking to a new person in a call center. I would explain again that I should not be charged because of their error. Each time the supervisor in the call center/billing said they would take care of the issue and call back. Never did. Went unresolved for almost 18 months until I got a call from a collections agency and then blew my top. (lawyer here). And never had to pay. But I did need gyns.' statement that Fairfax Radiology had told her that the first test was done incorrectly "flap of skin". I do think this is a racket. I do think they do too many call backs so they can try to collect twice.

And thank you for posting. You reminded me it is time to go in for another round. This time (I am reading the script), it says "Diagnostic. Bilateral. Add Tomosynthesis/3D mammogram".

Oh, by the way, we also think they screwed up on my bone test because there was simply no way that I could have become two inches shorter in one year and lost as much bone density as they said. She (gyn.) said it all depends on the tech. you pull and the machine they are using so she's sending me to a new center to have that done.

[Anonymous]

A timely thread for me - I'm going back in for second views tomorrow after my first ever mammogram. I had a 3D one done and the tech told me it was quite common to be called back for additional views, since they're trying to get the best possible baseline issues. I'm a bit nervous about it, but trying to remember that this doesn't appear to be uncommon.

[Anonymous]

12:54 Another thought. In all my prior visits to Fairfax Radiology, I had sat while they read the mammogram because I was high risk. On the day I thought they had done it incorrectly, the tech. blithely said I "could go". And I questioned that. She said I was fine and that they would read it later. Wrong. Make sure that you have prearranged to sit there while they do the initial read, which is what my gyn. is asking for again this time. That way you don't have to come back.

[Anonymous]

12:54, I am back! (8:26). Lots of breast cancer in my family so I check for this issue frequently. Yes, I still think (as does my gyn.) that this is a money-making gambit for the radiology clinics.

Thanks for posting again! I was adopted, so I don't know if I'm predisposed but my husband lost both his mother and sister to breast cancer, so this letter just brings a sickening feeling to our household.

I had a lengthy conversation with my gyno about it, but she said they didn't provide any further information. She's encouraging me to just go back, and I will, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm getting a shakedown. The form letter doesn't help.

I went to the same facility last month for a routine sonogram of my thyroid (I've had Hashimoto's for ten years now) and was surprised when the technician went out and came back with a doctor. She and the technician sat staring at the image and then told me they saw something that "could be something, or could be nothing." I mean, what? I asked her what am I supposed to do with that information, and she briskly told me I could talk it over with my doctor or I could just go ahead and schedule a biopsy at their facility. I declined and since they were sending the images to my endocrinologist, I said I would wait to hear from her. Haven't heard anything yet.

And that experience deepens my suspicion that it's a racket.

[Anonymous]

Call 7 on your side. Seriously. I use Fairfax radiology and I actually thought one of my doctors referring me there recommended CT scans way too freely. After the 2nd or 3rd CT scan I started reading more about it and got skeptical. Got a second opinion and there was no need for me to get yearly CT scans for my kidney stones since I had not had more issues.

I dread using Fairfax radiology for a mammogram and the last thing I want is even more radiation if they claim I need a followup.

[Anonymous]

Please tell me this is a bullshit scaremonger site.

http://douglassreport.com/2011/09/12/mammogram-danger/