The BI-RADS Reporting System
The Breast Imaging Reporting And Data System (BI-RADS) is the standardized reporting system for mammography that indicates how suspicious a particular finding might be.
The BI-RADS system reports mammogram findings using seven standardized categories, or levels. Each BI- RADS category has a follow-up recommendation associated with it to help radiologists and other physicians appropriately manage a patient's care. The categories are:
- Category 0: Assessment is incomplete —Additional imaging and/or prior images are needed before a final assessment can be assigned.
- Category 1: Negative—Continue with routine annual screening.
- Category 2: Benign Finding(s)—Continue with routine annual screening.
- Category 3: Probably Benign Finding— Short-term follow up (usually six months) recommended.
- Category 4: Suspicious Abnormality—Biopsy usually recommended.
- Category 5: Highly Suggestive of Malignancy—Requires a biopsy or surgical treatment.
- Category 6: Known Biopsy-Proven Malignancy—Lesion has already been determined by a biopsy to be cancer.
Breast Density Report
Your report will also describe the composition of your breast tissue. This is divided into four categories related to breast density:
- Category A: Entirely fatty
- Category B: Scattered areas of fibroglandular density
- Category C: Heterogeneously dense, which may obscure masses
- Category D: Extremely dense, which lowers mammography sensitivity
More information about breast density can be found here.