Reporting and Data Systems (RADS)

ACR Reporting and Data Systems (RADS) provide a standardized framework for characterizing and reporting imaging findings. The goal of the ACR RADS is to reduce the variability of terminology in reports and to ease communication between radiologists and referring physicians. The ACR does not have rights to the term RADS, therefore other societies have used this term for publications. RADS programs developed by other societies in collaboration with the ACR are further described below. ACR’s commitment to quality and standards apply to only RADS listed below.

Most RADS include standard terminology to describe findings, categories for assessing probability of disease, guidance for report organization, and recommendations for data collection from reports. Some data collection systems include recommendations on follow up data collection for monitoring physician performance. Generally, the RADS are modality dependent, contain rules to assess the probability of disease, and may include management recommendations.

RADS are developed by committees of member radiologists, and relevant referring physician consultants. Committees work to build a structured terminology and algorithms to measure risk of malignancy or disease. The risk assessments are provided in terms such as “normal” or “negative”, “benign”, “probably benign” or “intermediate risk”, to “definitely malignant” or “high risk”. Tools are provided through a range of products from lexicon, risk stratification system, atlas, report templates, and white papers.

ACR approved a proposal to improve the consistency, transparency and administration oversight of the ACR RADS. This article can be found here.