Breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS)

Changed by Ayush Goel, 28 Dec 2015

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

The BIRADSacronym stands for  for Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System which is a widely accepted risk assessment and quality assurance tool in mammography, ultrasound or MRI. Part of the initial implementation was to make the reporting of mammograms more standardised and comprehensible to the non-radiologist reading the report.

This is not a unique system. There are other systems in use all over the world.

Classification

The latest version classifies lesions into six categories: 

  • BIRADS 0: incomplete, further imaging or information is required, e.g. compression, magnification, special mammographic views, ultrasound. This is also used when requesting previous images not available at the time of reading.
  • BIRADS I: negative, symmetrical and no masses, architectural disturbances or suspicious calcifications present.
  • BIRADS II: benign findings, interpreter may wish to describe a benign-appearing finding finding, e.g.
  • BIRADS III: probably benign, short interval follow-up suggested
  • BIRADS IV: suspicious abnormality
    • there is a mammographic appearance which is suspicious for malignancy
    • biopsy should be considered for such a lesion
    • these can be further divided as
      • BIRADS IVa: low level of suspicion for malignancy
      • BIRADS IVb: intermediate suspicion for malignancy
      • BIRADS IVc: moderate suspicion for malignancy
  • BIRADS V: there is a mammographic appearance which is highly suggestive of malignancy, action should be taken.
  • BIRADS VI: known biopsy proven proven malignancy 

The vast majority of screening mammograms fall into BIRADS I or II 4.

Treatment and prognosis

Risk of cancer:

  • BIRADS III: ~2%
  • BIRADS IV: ~30% 3
  • BIRADS V: 95%
  • -<p>The <strong>BIRADS </strong>acronym stands for <strong>Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System</strong> which is a widely accepted risk assessment and quality assurance tool in mammography, ultrasound or MRI. Part of the initial implementation was to make the reporting of mammograms more standardised and comprehensible to the non-radiologist reading the report.</p><p>This is not a unique system. There are other systems in use all over the world.</p><h4>Classification</h4><p>The latest version classifies lesions into six categories: </p><ul>
  • +<p>The <strong>BIRADS </strong>acronym stands for <strong>Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System</strong> which is a widely accepted risk assessment and quality assurance tool in mammography, ultrasound or MRI. Part of the initial implementation was to make the reporting of mammograms more standardised and comprehensible to the non-radiologist reading the report.</p><p>This is not a unique system. There are other systems in use all over the world.</p><h4>Classification</h4><p>The latest version classifies lesions into six categories: </p><ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-ii">BIRADS II</a>: benign findings, interpreter may wish to describe a benign-appearing finding, e.g.<ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-ii">BIRADS II</a>: benign findings, interpreter may wish to describe a benign-appearing finding, e.g.<ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/breast-hamartoma">fibroadenolipoma</a> or mixed density <a href="/articles/breast-hamartoma">hamartomas</a>
  • +<a href="/articles/breast-hamartoma">fibroadenolipoma</a> or mixed density <a href="/articles/breast-hamartoma">hamartomas</a>
  • -<li>these all should have characteristic appearances, and may be labeled with confidence; the interpreter might wish to describe intra-mammary lymph nodes, implants, etc. while still concluding that there is no mammographic evidence suggesting malignancy</li>
  • +<li>these all should have characteristic appearances, and may be labeled with confidence; the interpreter might wish to describe intra-mammary lymph nodes, implants, etc. while still concluding that there is no mammographic evidence suggesting malignancy</li>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-vi">BIRADS VI</a>: known biopsy proven malignancy </li>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-vi">BIRADS VI</a>: known biopsy proven malignancy </li>
Images Changes:

Image ( destroy )

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.