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

Changed by Tim Luijkx, 18 Sep 2014

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The BIRADS acronym stands for Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System which is a widely accepted risk assesmentassessment 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.

The latest version classifies lesions into 6 categories and are: 

  • BIRADS 0 - incomplete: - further 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 interpreter may wish to describe a benign-appearing finding., e.g.:
  • BIRADS III - probably benign: - short interval follow-up suggested. The accent is on the word benign
  • 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 V - there is a mammographic appearance which is highly suggestive of malignancy - action should be taken.
  • BIRADS VI - known biopsy: proven malignancy 

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

Risk of cancer
  • BIRADS III: ~ 2~2%
  • BIRADS IV: ~ 30~30%3
  • BIRADS V: 95%

See also

  • -<p>The<strong> BIRADS</strong> acronym stands for <strong>Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System</strong> which is a widely accepted risk assesment 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><p>The latest version classifies lesions into 6 categories and are: </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><p>The latest version classifies lesions into 6 categories and are: </p><ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-0">BIRADS 0</a> - <strong>incomplete</strong> - 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.</li>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-0">BIRADS 0</a> - <strong>incomplete:</strong> 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.</li>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-i">BIRADS I</a> - <strong>negative</strong> - symmetrical and no masses, architectural disturbances or suspicious calcifications present.</li>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-i">BIRADS I</a> - <strong>negative:</strong> symmetrical and no masses, architectural disturbances or suspicious calcifications present.</li>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-ii">BIRADS II</a> - <strong>benign</strong> <strong>findings</strong> - interpreter may wish to describe a benign-appearing finding. e.g.<ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-ii">BIRADS II</a> - <strong>benign</strong> <strong>findings:</strong> interpreter may wish to describe a benign-appearing finding, e.g.:<ul>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/fat-necrosis-1">oil cysts</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/fat-necrosis-of-the-breast">oil cysts</a></li>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-iii">BIRADS III</a> - <strong>probably benign</strong> - short interval follow-up suggested. The accent is on the word <strong>benign</strong>. </li>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-iii">BIRADS III</a> - <strong>probably benign:</strong> short interval follow-up suggested. The accent is on the word benign. </li>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-iv">BIRADS IV</a> - <strong>suspicious abnormality</strong> : <ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-iv">BIRADS IV</a> - <strong>suspicious abnormality:</strong> <ul>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-v">BIRADS V</a> - there is a mammographic appearance which is <strong>highly suggestive of malignancy</strong> - action should be taken.</li>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-v">BIRADS V</a> - there is a mammographic appearance which is highly suggestive of malignancy - action should be taken.</li>
  • -<a href="/articles/birads-vi">BIRADS VI</a> - <strong>known biopsy</strong> proven malignancy </li>
  • -</ul><p>The vast majority of screening mammograms fall into BIRADS I or II <sup>4</sup></p><h5>Risk of cancer</h5><ul>
  • -<li>BIRADS III : ~ 2%</li>
  • -<li>BIRADS IV : ~ 30%<sup>3</sup>
  • +<a href="/articles/birads-vi">BIRADS VI</a> - <strong>known biopsy:</strong> proven malignancy </li>
  • +</ul><p>The vast majority of screening mammograms fall into BIRADS I or II <sup>4</sup>.</p><h5>Risk of cancer</h5><ul>
  • +<li>BIRADS III: ~2%</li>
  • +<li>BIRADS IV: ~30% <sup>3</sup>
  • -<li>BIRADS V : 95%</li>
  • +<li>BIRADS V: 95%</li>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/nottingham_classification">Nottingham classification</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/nottingham-classification">Nottingham classification</a></li>

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