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Reporting and Data Systems (RADS)

By adopting RADS, your practice puts standard terminology in place to improve reporting and clarify communication between radiologists and referring physicians.

Put RADS to Work in Your Practice

  • BI-RADS® (Breast)

    Gain access to over 700 clinical images, updated breast composition descriptors, follow-up and outcome monitoring and more.

    See BI-RADS
    The BI-RADS Icon: an illustration of a breast outlined in white on an indigo background with a lime green stripe at the bottom of the background.

  • Bone-RADS

    Developed under the guidance of a diverse committee of experts in musculoskeletal tumor imaging and orthopedic oncology, Bone-RADS™ helps predict the risk of malignancy.

    See Bone-RADS
    The Bone-RADS icon - a knee joint outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • C-RADS (CT Colonography)

    Establish a standard approach to reporting colorectal and extra-colonic findings in patients.

    See C-RADS
    The C-RADS icon - the colon outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • LI-RADS (Liver)

    LI-RADS® standardizes the reporting and data collection of CT and MR imaging for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

    See LI-RADS
    The LI-RADS icon - a liver outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • Lung-RADS

    Lung-RADS® standardizes lung cancer screening CT reporting and management recommendations to reduce confusion in interpretations and facilitate outcome monitoring.

    See Lung-RADS
    The Lung-RADS icon - lungs outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • NI-RADS (Head and Neck)

    NI-RADS™ helps radiologists and clinical teams with risk stratification of various imaging findings and provides guidance for management decisions.

    See NI-RADS
    The NI-RADS icon - a human head and neck silhouette outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • O-RADS (Ovarian)

    O-RADS™ is a clinical support system that standardizes description and classification of ovarian/adnexal lesions.

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    The O-RADS icon - an ovary and fallopian tube outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • PI-RADS (Prostate)

    Crafted in collaboration between ACR, the AdMeTech Foundation and ESUR to improve early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

    See PI-RADS
    The PI-RADS icon - a prostate outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

  • TI-RADS (Thyroid)

    Find evidence-based recommendations for managing thyroid nodules based on sonographic features that can be applied to every lesion.

    See TI-RADS
    The TI-RADS icon - a thyroid outlined in white against an indigo background with a bright lime green underline at the bottom. The top right corner of the indigo background is curved.

What’s New in RADS?

Access the latest content and resources related to RADS.

What You Should Know About RADS

ACR Reporting and Data Systems (RADS) serve as a standardized framework for characterizing and reporting imaging findings. The primary objective of ACR RADS is twofold: to facilitate effective communication between radiologists and referring physicians and enhance consistency in terminology across reports.

The ACR originated the first RADS in 1992 with the development of BI-RADS. Since then, the RADS moniker has become linked with standardized reporting frameworks and the ACR brand. ACR discourages use of the term RADS except for RADS that have been officially adopted by ACR. However, ACR does not have rights to the term RADS; therefore, other societies and non-affiliated authors have used this term for publications. RADS programs developed by other societies in collaboration with the ACR are described below. Our commitment to quality and ACR standards apply only to RADS developed or endorsed by ACR.

Key features of most RADS include:

  • Standardized Terminology: RADS employ a lexicon to consistently describe findings.
  • Risk Assessment Algorithms: Committees develop structured algorithms to measure the risk of malignancy or disease. Risk assessments include terms such as “normal”, “negative”, “benign”, “definitely malignant”, and “high risk.”
  • Report Organization Guidance: RADS offer guidance on structuring reports.
  • Data Collection Recommendations: Some RADS systems recommend follow-up data collection for monitoring and improving performance.
  • Modality Dependence: RADS are tailored to specific imaging modalities.
  • Comprehensive Tools: ACR provides a suite of tools, including lexicons, risk stratification systems, atlases, report templates, and white papers.

In 2022, the ACR approved a proposal to improve the consistency, transparency, and administrative oversight of ACR RADS. This resulted in the creation of the ACR RADS Steering Committee. Learn more in the JACR article.

  • Soft Tissue-RADS — Soft Tissue Lesions
  • Brain Tumor-RADS — Brain Tumor
  • TBI-RADS — Traumatic Brain Injury
  • PE-RADS — Pulmonary Embolism
  • VI-RADS — Vesical Imaging
  • KI-RADS — Kidney Masses

  • SCCT, ACC, ACR and NASCI collaborated in 2022 on the CAD-RAD program and published CAD-RADS™ 2.0 - 2022 Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System.
  • The International Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound Working Group Steering Committee (European Thyroid Association, the Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology) and ACR collaborated in 2022 on the I-TIRADS program and the International Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (I-TIRADS) Lexicon – Categories and Descriptors Definitions is pending publication.

No current topics under consideration.

Yes. Please fill out the form to submit your proposal.

The Committees in Quality and Safety want to hear about your experience with published RADS. Help us ensure the effectiveness of the guidelines. Each system listed will be available for a 90-day period.

There are no publications available for comment at this time.

RADS Translations

Translation Disclaimer:
All current translations have been vetted by members of the respective RADS International Working Group, who speak these languages. 

ACR disclaims liability for any acts or omissions that occur related to an individual's or entity's use of ACR's RADS, including but not limited to, translations of a specific RADS work.

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