Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System Subcategories Improve Diagnostic Accuracy in Mammographic Reports: Presented at ASCP

BALTIMORE, Md -- October 17, 2008 -- Use of Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System (BI-RADS) subcategories by radiologists can help improve the accuracy of breast cancer diagnoses, according to research presented here at the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 2008 Annual Meeting.

Mary Ann Sanders, MD, PhD, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, and colleagues conducted their study to determine the diagnostic accuracy of BI-RADS subcategory 4 diagnosis of mammograms by radiologists. Dr. Sanders presented the results on October 16.

Mammograms can now be subcategorised according to American College of Radiology criteria. "Levels 1 to 3 are benign lesions, and level 5 will almost always turn out to be malignant. Level 4, however, will turn out to be malignant in 30% of cases," she explained.

source: Doctors Guide