Mammographic screening and reporting: a need for standardisation. A review

Mammography has undergone significant improvement as screening tool for early diagnosis of breast cancer as a means of reducing mortality rate in them. The quality of mammograms and interpretative skills of the radiologist are important determinants required to achieve the favourable mortality reduction rates that have been established in randomised trials and also in service screening.Standardised reporting using the Breast Imaging Reporting And Data Systems (BI-RADS) lexicon, developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) has been found useful as a practical way of communication between radiologists and clinicians compared with the free style, which is according to the opinion of each radiologist. This reporting system takes into account important features in the breast such as parenchyma pattern among others, which has been reported as an important risk factor in breast cancer. The objective of this review is to present this lexicon to radiologists and referring physicians as a reporting method which will enhance communication,improve patient management and auditing of performance.