GITNUXREPORT 2025

Mammogram Call Back Statistics

Most callbacks are false positives; only 10% reveal actual breast cancer.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Younger women with dense breasts experience callback rates up to 20%, compared to 8% in women with fatty breasts

Statistic 2

Women with dense breast tissue are more likely to be called back following a mammogram, with call-back rates around 15-20%

Statistic 3

In screening mammograms, the recall rate can be influenced by technician experience and quality assurance practices

Statistic 4

The risk of recall increases by approximately 20% in women with prior benign biopsies

Statistic 5

The false-positive recall rate can be reduced through supplemental imaging like ultrasound or MRI

Statistic 6

The recall rate tends to be higher in screening programs that use bilateral imaging compared to unilateral, with an increase of around 2-3%

Statistic 7

The frequency of callback decreases with increased radiologist experience, with a 15% reduction after specialized training programs

Statistic 8

Use of computer-aided detection systems has been linked to a 3-5% increase in recall rates, due to higher sensitivity thresholds

Statistic 9

Higher recall rates in densely fibroglandular breasts are partly due to difficulty in interpreting overlapping tissue structures

Statistic 10

Socioeconomic factors influence callback rates, with women in higher income brackets experiencing slightly lower callback rates, approximately 4% less

Statistic 11

False-positive mammogram callbacks can lead to psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, with about 40% of women reporting significant distress

Statistic 12

Younger women tend to have higher recall rates, with approximately 13-15% compared to older women’s 7-9%

Statistic 13

Digital mammography has reduced callback rates compared to film mammography, with a decrease of about 2-4%

Statistic 14

Women with ambiguous or suspicious findings on mammograms have a higher chance of recall, with rates reaching 20%

Statistic 15

Recall rates are higher in women aged 40-49 compared to older age groups, with rates around 10-12%

Statistic 16

Approximately 10% of women called back after a screening mammogram are found to have breast cancer

Statistic 17

About 90% of women called back after a mammogram do not have breast cancer

Statistic 18

The recall rate for mammograms varies between 5% and 12% depending on the screening protocol

Statistic 19

Increased recall rates are associated with higher false-positive results, leading to emotional distress in women

Statistic 20

The average time between a mammogram recall and definitive diagnosis is approximately 31 days

Statistic 21

The number of women recalled after mammography screening annually exceeds 10 million in the U.S. alone

Statistic 22

The positive predictive value (PPV) for mammogram recalls is approximately 4-6%, meaning only 1 in 20 recalls is diagnosed with cancer

Statistic 23

Routine screening mammograms in women aged 50-74 have a recall rate of about 6-8%

Statistic 24

Approximately 1% of women recalled after mammograms are diagnosed with interval cancers within a year

Statistic 25

More than 50% of women who are called back for additional screening undergo further testing within 30 days

Statistic 26

Breast density notification laws have increased callback rates in several states by approximately 4-6%

Statistic 27

Approximately 3-5% of women who are called back after mammography undergo biopsy, with a positive predictive value of biopsy being about 25-30%

Statistic 28

Women with a personal history of breast cancer have an increased likelihood of recall, estimated at 12-14%

Statistic 29

About 7% of women recalled for additional images receive a cancer diagnosis upon follow-up testing

Statistic 30

The average number of mammogram call-backs per woman over a lifetime is approximately 2, depending on age and risk factors

Statistic 31

The use of Tomosynthesis (3D mammography) has further reduced callback rates by about 2%, compared to traditional 2D mammography

Slide 1 of 31

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Approximately 10% of women called back after a screening mammogram are found to have breast cancer
About 90% of women called back after a mammogram do not have breast cancer
The recall rate for mammograms varies between 5% and 12% depending on the screening protocol
Younger women tend to have higher recall rates, with approximately 13-15% compared to older women’s 7-9%
Digital mammography has reduced callback rates compared to film mammography, with a decrease of about 2-4%
Increased recall rates are associated with higher false-positive results, leading to emotional distress in women
Women with dense breast tissue are more likely to be called back following a mammogram, with call-back rates around 15-20%
The average time between a mammogram recall and definitive diagnosis is approximately 31 days
In screening mammograms, the recall rate can be influenced by technician experience and quality assurance practices
The number of women recalled after mammography screening annually exceeds 10 million in the U.S. alone
The positive predictive value (PPV) for mammogram recalls is approximately 4-6%, meaning only 1 in 20 recalls is diagnosed with cancer
Routine screening mammograms in women aged 50-74 have a recall rate of about 6-8%
Women with ambiguous or suspicious findings on mammograms have a higher chance of recall, with rates reaching 20%

Did you know that while only about 10% of women called back after a mammogram are diagnosed with cancer, the emotional toll of false positives affects nearly half of them, revealing a complex balance between early detection and psychological impact?

Breast Density and Demographic Factors

Younger women with dense breasts experience callback rates up to 20%, compared to 8% in women with fatty breasts

Breast Density and Demographic Factors Interpretation

The data underscores the paradox that while dense breast tissue can obscure tumors and elevate callback rates to nearly 20%, women with fattier breasts enjoy a more straightforward screening experience, highlighting the need for tailored radiological approaches.

Factors Influencing Recall Rates

Women with dense breast tissue are more likely to be called back following a mammogram, with call-back rates around 15-20%
In screening mammograms, the recall rate can be influenced by technician experience and quality assurance practices
The risk of recall increases by approximately 20% in women with prior benign biopsies
The false-positive recall rate can be reduced through supplemental imaging like ultrasound or MRI
The recall rate tends to be higher in screening programs that use bilateral imaging compared to unilateral, with an increase of around 2-3%
The frequency of callback decreases with increased radiologist experience, with a 15% reduction after specialized training programs
Use of computer-aided detection systems has been linked to a 3-5% increase in recall rates, due to higher sensitivity thresholds
Higher recall rates in densely fibroglandular breasts are partly due to difficulty in interpreting overlapping tissue structures

Factors Influencing Recall Rates Interpretation

While dense breast tissue and advanced detection tools heighten recall rates, enhancing technician expertise and integrating supplemental imaging can turn a frustrating statistic into an opportunity for more accurate, less anxiety-inducing screening.

Psychological and Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic factors influence callback rates, with women in higher income brackets experiencing slightly lower callback rates, approximately 4% less
False-positive mammogram callbacks can lead to psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, with about 40% of women reporting significant distress

Psychological and Socioeconomic Factors Interpretation

Socioeconomic disparities subtly shape mammogram callback rates—favoring wealthier women with a modest 4% edge—while the emotional toll of false positives looms large, leaving nearly 40% of women grappling with distress that underscores the profound psychological weight of breast cancer screening.

Recall Rates

Younger women tend to have higher recall rates, with approximately 13-15% compared to older women’s 7-9%
Digital mammography has reduced callback rates compared to film mammography, with a decrease of about 2-4%
Women with ambiguous or suspicious findings on mammograms have a higher chance of recall, with rates reaching 20%
Recall rates are higher in women aged 40-49 compared to older age groups, with rates around 10-12%

Recall Rates Interpretation

While younger women and those with ambiguous results face higher recall rates—up to 20%—advancements like digital mammography have tempered these numbers, but the persistent trend underscores the importance of nuanced screening tailored to age and risk.

Screening Outcomes and Recall Rates

Approximately 10% of women called back after a screening mammogram are found to have breast cancer
About 90% of women called back after a mammogram do not have breast cancer
The recall rate for mammograms varies between 5% and 12% depending on the screening protocol
Increased recall rates are associated with higher false-positive results, leading to emotional distress in women
The average time between a mammogram recall and definitive diagnosis is approximately 31 days
The number of women recalled after mammography screening annually exceeds 10 million in the U.S. alone
The positive predictive value (PPV) for mammogram recalls is approximately 4-6%, meaning only 1 in 20 recalls is diagnosed with cancer
Routine screening mammograms in women aged 50-74 have a recall rate of about 6-8%
Approximately 1% of women recalled after mammograms are diagnosed with interval cancers within a year
More than 50% of women who are called back for additional screening undergo further testing within 30 days
Breast density notification laws have increased callback rates in several states by approximately 4-6%
Approximately 3-5% of women who are called back after mammography undergo biopsy, with a positive predictive value of biopsy being about 25-30%
Women with a personal history of breast cancer have an increased likelihood of recall, estimated at 12-14%
About 7% of women recalled for additional images receive a cancer diagnosis upon follow-up testing
The average number of mammogram call-backs per woman over a lifetime is approximately 2, depending on age and risk factors
The use of Tomosynthesis (3D mammography) has further reduced callback rates by about 2%, compared to traditional 2D mammography

Screening Outcomes and Recall Rates Interpretation

While roughly 90% of women called back after a mammogram are reassured they do not have cancer, the process still captures over 10 million women annually in the U.S., highlighting the delicate balance between early detection and unnecessary anxiety in breast cancer screening.