How to read your mammogram report?

Outpatient clinics often come across patients with their own breast ultrasound list is very nervous looking for the doctor, this report on the English meaning, is it very serious ah! First of all, let’s recognize what “BI-RADS” means. It stands for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System of the American College of Radiology.BI-RADS is widely used in all kinds of imaging examinations of the breast, such as X-ray molybdenum target photography, color ultrasound, MRI, etc., and is used to evaluate the degree of benignity and malignancy of breast lesions as a kind of assessment and classification method.The BI-RADS classification method divides the breast lesions into 0-6 grades, and in general the higher the grade, the greater the likelihood of malignancy. The BI-RADS grading system categorizes breast lesions into grades 0 to 6. BI-RADS grade 0: is an incomplete evaluation. The patient needs to be recalled and other relevant imaging tests need to be added, or the results need to be compared with previous tests for further evaluation. (Simply put, it is not clear that another test is needed to cross-reference). BI-RADS1: Negative results, no abnormal lesions found, i.e. normal breast. BI-RADS2: Benign lesions, malignancy can be basically ruled out. Regular review is sufficient.BI-RADS3 grade: possibly benign lesions, short-term follow-up (3-6 months is generally recommended) is recommended, the doctor needs to confirm the judgment of benignity through short-term follow-up observation, and if it is stable for 2-3 consecutive years, it can be changed to BI-RADS2 grade. BI-RADS3 grade: benign disease is possible, but need to shorten the follow-up period (e.g., once every 3 to 6 months), the proportion of malignancy in this grade is less than 2%. BI-RADS grade 4: Suspected malignant lesions. Clinical intervention by the physician is required, and biopsy is usually considered first, e.g., hollow needle aspiration biopsy, surgical biopsy. This grade can be further categorized into 4a, 4b, and 4c. 4a: Biopsy is required, but the likelihood of malignancy is low (3% to 30%). If the benign result of the biopsy can be trusted, it can be converted to six-month follow-up.4b: Tendency to malignancy. Likelihood of malignancy is 31% to 60%. 4c: Further suspicion of malignancy, 61% to 94% likelihood. BI-RADS grade 5: Highly probable malignancy, almost certain. Likelihood of malignancy ≧95%, aggressive diagnosis and management should be taken. BI-RADS6: The lesion has been confirmed as malignant by biopsy, but no treatment has been carried out, and active treatment measures should be taken. Of course, this classification is greatly influenced by the technical level and subjective opinion of the examining doctor. The process of diagnosing a disease is by no means so simple. But also according to the clinical experience of professional doctors to carry out specific comprehensive analysis, get the report card must not be self-centered, must consult a professional doctor, in order to get the correct guidance.