title: The accuracy of BI-RADS classification of breast ultrasound as a first-line imaging method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate the accuracy of BI-RADS categories 3 - 5 in breast ultrasound (US) as the first-line imaging method.
  
  
  METHODS
  5077 examinations of a consecutive, unselected and mixed collective of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were performed. Of these examinations, 835 cases of BIRADS 3 - 5 could be analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PPV with respect to a malignant lesion for BI-RADS 3, 4, 5 was 0.03, 0.48, and 0.97, respectively. When BI-RADS 4 and 5 cases are considered to be suspicious, the ratio of benign to malignant findings corresponds to 1:1.8. Analyzing BIRADS 3 - 5 lesions, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy are 0.92, 0.85, and 0.87, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data support the feasibility of US for discriminating malignant from benign findings corresponding to the ACR BI-RADS classification without excessively increasing the number of unnecessary biopsies.
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Frauenheilkunde, Hamburg, Germany. heino.hille@t-online.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hille
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vetter
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hackelöer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000145:classification* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*