Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Interpretation of mammograms plays a significant role in the final diagnosis, follow-up and treatment. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess breast imaging reporting and data system (BIRADS) agreement with the traditional interpretation in breast mass descriptions. The study was conducted from October 2015 to July 2019 at different Khartoum hospitals with digital mammographic units. The study included 300 mammographic images for women aged 15 to 90 years. A data collection sheet was used, including BIRAD mass assessment factors: presence, shape, margin, and density. Radiologists reported the mammographic images according to the traditional way of reporting; then, images were evaluated according to the BIRAD to define the degree of concordance between them. Kappa value was used to assess the degree of agreement. The study revealed that mass presence had a very good agreement between the methods (k = 0.835), and mass density had a good agreement (k = 0.742). A moderate agreement was seen between the two methods regarding the shape of mass (k = 0.529) and its margin (k = 0.475). The study concluded that there was a degree of difference in the description of the findings. Therefore, it is essential to follow the standard lexicon, which avoids any misunderstanding or confusion and facilitates breast lesions assessment and follow-up.