By Kimberly Stephenson
What is a BI RADS score?
After a mammogram, the answers to questions like: “Did anything look abnormal?” and “How serious is the abnormality that was found?”, help radiologists and physicians to determine your BI RADS score. Your BI RADS score is an acronym for ‘Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System’. The score ranks the findings from mammogram screenings into a small number of well-defined categories.
The score is used to convey to doctors how concerned radiologists are about the findings. The information obtained by the radiologist is efficiently summed up in that one number. While this test cannot medically diagnose breast cancer, it can help to identify anything atypical. However, it is important to note that not all abnormal findings are considered cancerous.

What Does the BI RADS scoring system tell us?
Doctors use the BI-RADS scheme to place abnormal findings into categories. The categories range from 0 to 6, and are as followed:
Category 0: A score of 0 indicates an incomplete test. The mammogram images may have been difficult to read or interpret. This could happen, for example, if you moved at the precise moment the picture was taken. In some cases, doctors may want to compare these new images with older ones to determine if there have been any changes. A BI-RADS score of 0 requires additional tests and images to provide a final assessment.
Category 1: A score of 1 indicates a negative result. This score is good news. It means that your mammogram has no evident signs of cancer, your breast has equal density and no well-formed mass. However, you should continue to have routine screenings.
Category 2: A score of 2 indicates a negative result but with benign findings. Your mammogram is normal, with no apparent cancer, but other findings (such as benign cysts or masses) are described in the report. Routine visits are suggested with this score.
Category 3: A score of 3 indicates that findings are probably benign. This score is not so black and white as the findings imply that your mammogram results are probably normal, but there is a 2% chance of cancer. You will be asked to follow-up with a repeat mammogram within six months. And if you have family or personal history of breast cancer, the radiologist may opt to do more tests now rather than later. Regular visits help avoid multiple and unnecessary biopsies. They also help confirm an early diagnosis if cancer is found.
Category 4: A score of 4 indicates suspicious findings or abnormalities. This level is where concern for breast cancer risk begins to increase. In this instance, there is a 20% to 35% chance of cancer. To verify, your doctor will need to perform a biopsy to test a small tissue sample. This score is split within three additional categories based on the doctor’s level of suspicion: