Probably benign lesions detected on breast MR imaging

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) MRI atlas includes a 'probably benign' category.
• Short-term follow-up is often recommended for these lesions, but criteria are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review data on the BI-RADS 3 assessment category for breast MRI.
• To define characteristics of lesions suitable for short-term follow-up and reduce unnecessary biopsies.

Main Methods:

• Review of published retrospective and prospective data.
• Analysis of lesion morphology and kinetics for BI-RADS 3 suitability.
• Consideration of factors influencing BI-RADS 3 category use.

Main Results:

• The article reviews the cancer yield of the BI-RADS 3 category.
• It discusses lesion characteristics and factors affecting the use of BI-RADS 3.
• An algorithm with imaging examples is provided.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed to define specific morphologic and kinetic characteristics for safe short-term follow-up.
• Clarifying these criteria can help patients avoid biopsy without altering prognosis.