Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI RADS) - why we don’t use it correctly in the region?

Nataša Prvulović Bunović; Milica Mastilović; Maja Stankov; Borislava Nikolin

doi:10.2298/AOO240606008P

Nataša Prvulović Bunović Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad. Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Put Doktora Goldmana 4, Sremska Kamenica
Milica Mastilović Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad.
Maja Stankov Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad. Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 1, Novi Sad.
Borislava Nikolin Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, Novi Sad. Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Put Doktora Goldmana 4, Sremska Kamenica

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/AOO240606008P

Keywords: BI RADS, mammography, breast imaging

Abstract

Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI RADS) is used for the standardization of radiological reports in breast imaging, created by the American college of radiology (ACR). Standardized reports allow breast lesion characterization, malignancy risk assessment, and facilitate communication between doctors. The system is made for everyday clinical practice with the aim to improve the quality of diagnostics and anticipate comparison of results with colleagues from another health institutions, while in Serbia to assist in communication with colleagues from the region. BI RADS system is composed of a lexicon recommendations for structured radiological reporting and further management. Most of the health institutions in Serbia and surrounding countries use it, but in everyday clinical practice the system is not correctly implemented in all institutions. During daily imaging procedures we see radiological reports coming from different institutions in the region. Some of them clearly show that the system is misunderstood and not implemented in a correct way. Our aim is to evaluate the use of BI RADS system in everyday clinical practice in Serbia and region, to explain why it is not used correctly, to point out the most common mistakes made, with the desire to make the system work adequately.

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