The ACR BI-RADS® Experience: Learning From History

Elizabeth S. Burnside; Edward A. Sickles; Lawrence W. Bassett; Daniel L. Rubin; Carol H. Lee; Debra M. Ikeda; Ellen B. Mendelson; Pamela A. Wilcox; Priscilla F. Butler; Carl J. D'Orsi

doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2009.07.023

The ACR BI-RADS^® Experience: Learning From History

Elizabeth S. Burnside^*, Edward A. Sickles, Lawrence W. Bassett, Daniel L. Rubin, Carol H. Lee, Debra M. Ikeda, Ellen B. Mendelson, Pamela A. Wilcox, Priscilla F. Butler, Carl J. D'Orsi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Radiology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

279 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System^® (BI-RADS^®) initiative, instituted by the ACR, was begun in the late 1980s to address a lack of standardization and uniformity in mammography practice reporting. An important component of the BI-RADS initiative is the lexicon, a dictionary of descriptors of specific imaging features. The BI-RADS lexicon has always been data driven, using descriptors that previously had been shown in the literature to be predictive of benign and malignant disease. Once established, the BI-RADS lexicon provided new opportunities for quality assurance, communication, research, and improved patient care. The history of this lexicon illustrates a series of challenges and instructive successes that provide a valuable guide for other groups that aspire to develop similar lexicons in the future.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	851-860
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of the American College of Radiology
Volume	6
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2009.07.023
State	Published - Dec 2009

Funding

In 1998, the Lesion Diagnosis Working Group developed minimum reporting standards on MRI scanning techniques, region-of-interest kinetic curve acquisition, lesion architecture, and kinetic curve interpretation. These experts used the breast MRI literature to compile the most important descriptors for lesion diagnosis that would prompt specific patient management recommendations, such as biopsy. The morphologic descriptors were based on terms used in the BI-RADS mammography lexicon, when appropriate, to facilitate use and adoption in clinical practice. After the development of the preliminary breast MRI lexicon, this group performed several reader studies (funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the ACR) to evaluate the reproducibility of these descriptors for the characterization of biopsy-proven MRI abnormalities [ 37 ]. Using the results of each study, portions of the lexicon were expanded and others eliminated in a stepwise, progressive manner. This study was supported by grant 1 K07 CA114181 from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

Keywords

BI-RADS
breast cancer
breast imaging
diagnosis
informatics lexicon
mammography
screening
structured reporting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jacr.2009.07.023

Cite this

@article{e183b9073a3847e0ac0c4efb61008c85,

title = "The ACR BI-RADS{\textregistered} Experience: Learning From History",

abstract = "The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System{\textregistered} (BI-RADS{\textregistered}) initiative, instituted by the ACR, was begun in the late 1980s to address a lack of standardization and uniformity in mammography practice reporting. An important component of the BI-RADS initiative is the lexicon, a dictionary of descriptors of specific imaging features. The BI-RADS lexicon has always been data driven, using descriptors that previously had been shown in the literature to be predictive of benign and malignant disease. Once established, the BI-RADS lexicon provided new opportunities for quality assurance, communication, research, and improved patient care. The history of this lexicon illustrates a series of challenges and instructive successes that provide a valuable guide for other groups that aspire to develop similar lexicons in the future.",

keywords = "BI-RADS, breast cancer, breast imaging, diagnosis, informatics lexicon, mammography, screening, structured reporting",

author = "Burnside, \{Elizabeth S.\} and Sickles, \{Edward A.\} and Bassett, \{Lawrence W.\} and Rubin, \{Daniel L.\} and Lee, \{Carol H.\} and Ikeda, \{Debra M.\} and Mendelson, \{Ellen B.\} and Wilcox, \{Pamela A.\} and Butler, \{Priscilla F.\} and D'Orsi, \{Carl J.\}",

note = "Funding Information: In 1998, the Lesion Diagnosis Working Group developed minimum reporting standards on MRI scanning techniques, region-of-interest kinetic curve acquisition, lesion architecture, and kinetic curve interpretation. These experts used the breast MRI literature to compile the most important descriptors for lesion diagnosis that would prompt specific patient management recommendations, such as biopsy. The morphologic descriptors were based on terms used in the BI-RADS mammography lexicon, when appropriate, to facilitate use and adoption in clinical practice. After the development of the preliminary breast MRI lexicon, this group performed several reader studies (funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the ACR) to evaluate the reproducibility of these descriptors for the characterization of biopsy-proven MRI abnormalities [ 37 ]. Using the results of each study, portions of the lexicon were expanded and others eliminated in a stepwise, progressive manner. Funding Information: This study was supported by grant 1 K07 CA114181 from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Copyright: Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2009",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.jacr.2009.07.023",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "6",

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journal = "Journal of the American College of Radiology",

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T2 - Learning From History

AU - Burnside, Elizabeth S.

AU - Sickles, Edward A.

AU - Bassett, Lawrence W.

AU - Rubin, Daniel L.

AU - Lee, Carol H.

AU - Ikeda, Debra M.

AU - Mendelson, Ellen B.

AU - Wilcox, Pamela A.

AU - Butler, Priscilla F.

AU - D'Orsi, Carl J.

N1 - Funding Information: In 1998, the Lesion Diagnosis Working Group developed minimum reporting standards on MRI scanning techniques, region-of-interest kinetic curve acquisition, lesion architecture, and kinetic curve interpretation. These experts used the breast MRI literature to compile the most important descriptors for lesion diagnosis that would prompt specific patient management recommendations, such as biopsy. The morphologic descriptors were based on terms used in the BI-RADS mammography lexicon, when appropriate, to facilitate use and adoption in clinical practice. After the development of the preliminary breast MRI lexicon, this group performed several reader studies (funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and the ACR) to evaluate the reproducibility of these descriptors for the characterization of biopsy-proven MRI abnormalities [ 37 ]. Using the results of each study, portions of the lexicon were expanded and others eliminated in a stepwise, progressive manner. Funding Information: This study was supported by grant 1 K07 CA114181 from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Copyright: Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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N2 - The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System® (BI-RADS®) initiative, instituted by the ACR, was begun in the late 1980s to address a lack of standardization and uniformity in mammography practice reporting. An important component of the BI-RADS initiative is the lexicon, a dictionary of descriptors of specific imaging features. The BI-RADS lexicon has always been data driven, using descriptors that previously had been shown in the literature to be predictive of benign and malignant disease. Once established, the BI-RADS lexicon provided new opportunities for quality assurance, communication, research, and improved patient care. The history of this lexicon illustrates a series of challenges and instructive successes that provide a valuable guide for other groups that aspire to develop similar lexicons in the future.

AB - The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System® (BI-RADS®) initiative, instituted by the ACR, was begun in the late 1980s to address a lack of standardization and uniformity in mammography practice reporting. An important component of the BI-RADS initiative is the lexicon, a dictionary of descriptors of specific imaging features. The BI-RADS lexicon has always been data driven, using descriptors that previously had been shown in the literature to be predictive of benign and malignant disease. Once established, the BI-RADS lexicon provided new opportunities for quality assurance, communication, research, and improved patient care. The history of this lexicon illustrates a series of challenges and instructive successes that provide a valuable guide for other groups that aspire to develop similar lexicons in the future.

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