UNDERSTANDING MY IMAGING RESULTS
The radiologists classified the results of their studies to image the breast using a numerical system. In a certain way, give it a "grade" to the study of image to help us make decisions about follow-up and treatment. It also creates a universal language with which, no matter what doctor to see his studio, we all speak the same language.
Doctors breast use this system, called a BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System), which classifies the results of the imaging studies breast in categories from 0 to 6.
SYSTEM BIRADS
BIRADS 0: Study incomplete: an evaluation is needed of additional image and / or comparison with previous studies.
- This means the radiologist may have seen a possible abnormality, but the study is not clear and will require further testing. This may also suggest that the radiologist wants to compare his more recent work with the previous, to see if there have been changes with the time.
BIRADS 1: Study was negative.
- There is no abnormality is significant. Your breasts will look the same (they are symmetrical), no tumors or nodules, structures, distorted, or suspicious calcifications. In this case, negative means that you will not find anything wrong with it. The recommended way is to repeat the study within a year as a follow-up normal.
BIRADS 2: Study benign.
- It is also a negative result (or no image is suspicious of malignancy), but the radiologist chose to describe a finding that is known to be benign, such as calcifications, benign, lymph nodes of appearance inflammatory, simple cysts or fibroadenomas, among others. This ensures that other people who see the studio, please don't misunderstand a finding benign as a suspect. It also helps us when compared with future studies. The recommended way is to repeat the study within a year as a follow-up normal.
BIRADS 3: Probably benign: it is suggested follow-up in 6 months.
- The findings in this category have a very high probability (98%) to be benign (non-cancerous). Although it is not expected that the lesions change over time, such as has not been shown to be benign by means of a biopsy, it is preferable to follow-up.
- In this case, is the follow-up with repeated imaging every 6 months to verify that the lesion remains stable (usually at least 2 years). This approach helps to avoid unnecessary biopsies, but if the area changes with the time, still allows the early diagnosis.
BIRADS 4: suspicious Abnormality: should be considered for biopsy.
- The findings may or may not be malignant. The radiologist is sufficiently concerned as to recommend a biopsy. The findings in this category may have different levels of suspicion. For this reason, it is divided into 3 sub categories:
- 4A: Finding with a low probability of being cancer (more than 2% but not more than 10%)
- 4B: Finding with a moderate probability of being cancer (more than 10% but not more than 50%)
- 4C: Finding with a high probability of cancer (more than 50% but less than 95%), but not so high as the Category 5.
BIRADS 5: Highly suggestive of malignancy: you must take a biopsy.
- The findings are highly suspicious, and have a high probability (at least 95%) to be cancer. The biopsy is highly recommended.
BIRADS 6: Malignancy confirmed by a biopsy: should be given the appropriate treatment.
- This category is used only to findings in a study of image which, by means of a biopsy, proved to be cancer.