What Is a Lay Result Letter in Mammography?

The Mammography Quality Standards Act requires every certified facility to send each patient a plain-language results letter within 30 calendar days -- or within 7 days when findings are Suspicious or Highly Suggestive of Malignancy. The 2023 Final Rule, effective September 10, 2024, added mandatory breast density classification and exact FDA-prescribed notification language that facilities may not alter. This article covers what the letter must contain, how it differs from the technical report, and the evidence-based design principles that determine whether patients act on their results.