Grading Breast Density

31.12.13 / Breast Density / Author:

The American College of Radiology (ACR) developed a standard way of describing findings from a mammogram. It is called the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS).  BI-RADS includes a category for reporting breast density.

 

BI-RADS 1:  Less than 25% of the breast is fibrous and glandular tissue

BI-RADS 2:  25% – 50% of the breast is fibrous and glandular tissue

BI-RADS 3:  51% – 75% of the breast is fibrous and glandular tissue (this means it is now becoming more difficult to see small masses such as cysts or tumours)

BI-RADS 4:  More than 75% of the breast is fibrous and glandular tissue.  This is where some cancers can be missed

 

BI-RADS is not routinely recorded in Australia, except in Western Australia.

How this grading looks in pictures

Comments: 1

Deborah Graham // January 7th, 2015 - 3:11 am

I have never heard of the bi-rad system used to grade breast density, only the score of the likelyhood of cancer. Now the A,b,and c I’ve heard of…but not the one two and three.

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