What is the breast ultrasound BI-RADS system and clinical recommendations

  The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) was developed by The American College of Radiology (ACR) in collaboration with experts from other relevant medical societies and associations to standardize breast ultrasound descriptions and The RADS was developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) in collaboration with experts from other relevant medical societies and associations to standardize the terminology of breast ultrasound descriptions and diagnostic findings to facilitate clinical management and communication between imaging (ultrasound) practitioners, clinicians, and patients. The first edition of this classification system was published in 2003 and has been continuously improved since its publication and the second edition was published in 2013. To facilitate the interpretation of breast ultrasound reports by patients, it is briefly described below.  The breast BI-RADS assessment of breast lesions is divided into categories 0-6, and corresponding management recommendations are given: BI-RADS0: unable to determine benign or malignant. This is because the patient or other reasons, can not make a proper ultrasound assessment of the examined breast, this situation requires further imaging or other medical methods of examination; BI-RADS1: negative results, the possibility of malignancy is basically equal to 0. Ultrasound examination without positive findings, can be interpreted as ultrasound examination for normal, this situation belongs to the best ultrasound examination results, the patient can rest assured, at most BI-RADS2: benign lesions, including simple cysts, breast implants, local changes after surgery and fibroadenomas with no change in multiple follow-ups, the possibility of malignancy is basically equal to 0. This is a better ultrasound result and the patient can rest assured that a routine health check (1 time/year) is sufficient; BI-RADS3 : Probably benign, ultrasound images mostly show a substantial mass with clear borders and horizontal growth, the most likely result is fibroadenoma; some other complex cysts, ductal dilatation, etc. can also be included in category 3. The malignancy of category 3 lesions is less than 2%. Short-term follow-up is recommended, generally chosen as 6 months. BI-RADS4: suspicious malignant lesions with a malignant likelihood greater than 2% but less than 95%, ultrasound-guided biopsy puncture is recommended to obtain a histopathological basis. Substantial masses without fibroadenoma and other benign lesions on ultrasound images can be classified into 4 categories. 4 categories can be further classified into 4A, 4B and 4C according to the degree of malignancy; BI-RADS4A: low suspicion of malignancy, with a malignant potential greater than 2% and less than or equal to 10%; BI-RADS4B: moderate suspicion of malignancy, with a malignant potential greater than 10% and less than or equal to 50%. BI-RADS4C: Highly suspicious malignancy, with malignant potential greater than 50% and less than 95%.  BI-RADS5: highly suggestive of malignancy, with malignant probability greater than or equal to 95%, and ultrasound images showing malignant features such as irregular morphology, unclear borders, uneven internal echogenicity, calcification and longitudinal growth of the lesion. Ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy is recommended. BI-RADS6: Lesions that have been biopsied and confirmed to be malignant can be diagnosed as category 6 when re-examined and evaluated by ultrasound. For these types of lesions, the clinician will communicate with the patient and choose the appropriate time to perform surgical treatment.  The BI-RADS classification of breast ultrasound must be done by the sonographer. Patients should not narrow or exaggerate their condition by matching previous ultrasound reports to their own!