Las Vegas Breast Cancer Survivor Receives 'Horrifying' Letter About Faulty Mammograms

Summerlin Hospital ordered to stop performing mammography after failing to meet FDA standards

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Salli Schwartz, a 74-year-old breast cancer survivor in Las Vegas, received a 'horrifying' letter from Summerlin Hospital stating that her last three mammograms were not valid due to the hospital failing to meet FDA quality standards. The hospital has been ordered to stop performing mammography services, leaving Schwartz and other patients scrambling to get their mammograms repeated at other facilities.

Why it matters

This incident has shaken the trust of breast cancer survivors like Schwartz, who relied on Summerlin Hospital's services for their critical cancer screenings. It raises concerns about the oversight and accountability of mammography facilities, especially those that cater to high-risk patients. The situation also highlights the importance of quality assurance in medical imaging to ensure accurate diagnoses and timely treatment.

The details

According to the letter Schwartz received, Summerlin Hospital failed to meet the clinical image quality standards set by the American College of Radiation, leading the FDA to require the hospital to stop performing mammography services as of December 11, 2025. The hospital is now required to notify all patients who received mammograms during the affected period and advise them to get their mammograms repeated at another facility. Summerlin Hospital has agreed to cover the costs for any repeat mammograms.

  • Schwartz's most recent mammogram at Summerlin Hospital was on June 17, 2025.
  • The hospital was required to stop performing mammography services on December 11, 2025.
  • Schwartz received the 'horrifying' letter from the hospital more than a week ago, in late January 2026.

The players

Salli Schwartz

A 74-year-old breast cancer survivor in Las Vegas who received the 'horrifying' letter from Summerlin Hospital about her last three mammograms being invalid.

Summerlin Hospital Medical Center

A hospital in Las Vegas that is part of the Valley Health System and was ordered by the FDA to stop performing mammography services due to failing to meet quality standards.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency that sets the standards for mammography facilities under the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) and required Summerlin Hospital to stop providing mammography services.

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What they’re saying

“I almost threw up to be honest with you, I got sick to my stomach. It was horrifying of all things. I mean, I trusted these people in their beautiful new facility they advertise with the latest equipment.”

— Salli Schwartz (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

What’s next

Schwartz has scheduled a repeat mammogram for Tuesday to have her screening done at another facility. The hospital has said it will cover the costs for any patients who need to get their mammograms repeated.

The takeaway

This incident has shaken the trust of breast cancer survivors like Schwartz, who relied on Summerlin Hospital's services for their critical cancer screenings. It raises serious questions about the oversight and accountability of mammography facilities, especially those serving high-risk patients, and highlights the need for robust quality assurance measures to ensure accurate diagnoses and timely treatment.