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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Question about BIRADS
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Jul 01, 2004 12:00AM
Dear rfrancis, The BIRADS rating scale is divided into 5 categories with 1 being negative, nothing to comment on. Routine screening. to 5 being highly suggestive of malignancy, appropriate action should be taken. A rating of 4 suggests a suspicious looking abnormality, not characteristic but has a reasonable probability of malignancy, and a biopsy should be considered.
Member Comments (4)
by Rfrancis, Jul 01, 2004 12:00AM
But what does it mean when they give you a rating of "4A"?
by surgeon, Jul 01, 2004 12:00AM
Birads 4 is the category in which the classical characteristics of cancer aren't all there, but there's enough to be concerned about. Recently, there have been suggestions to categorize that further by adding A, B, and C, to indicated less or more worrisome within the category. A is less, C is more. I really don't think that adds a heck of a lot: if it's a 4, most people would recommend a biopsy to be safe as possible. However, I suppose in a given circumstance where there were other factors that would make one lean away from biopsy, it'd be more sensible to choose that path with an A than with a C. Many women with category 4 do not have cancer; and fewer still A's will have it than C's. But it's hard not to suggest biopsy when a 4 is seen, unless there are specific mitigating factors.
by ALi273, Jul 01, 2004 12:00AM
I just recently had an MRI which came back as a birad 4B. Needless to say I was really worried and went for the biopsy. Thankfully it was benign. Hopefully yours will be too. Good luck to you!
