Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39505735›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology2025

Inter-reader agreement of the BI-RADS CEM lexicon.

Calogero Zarcaro, Ambra Santonocito, Layla Zeitouni, Francesca Ferrara, Panagiotis Kapetas, Ruxandra-Iulia Milos, Thomas H Helbich, Pascal A T Baltzer, Paola Clauser

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. How Does ACR BI-RADSDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Calogero ZarcaroDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic (Bi.N.D.), University Hospital "Policlinico P. Giaccone", Palermo, Italy.
Ambra SantonocitoDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Layla ZeitouniDepartment of Radiology Section of Breast Imaging, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Francesca FerraraCatholic University of the Sacred Heart, Insitute of Radiology, Largo A, Rome, Italy.
Panagiotis KapetasDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Ruxandra-Iulia MilosDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Thomas H HelbichDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Pascal A T BaltzerDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. patbaltzer@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3755-5398
Paola ClauserDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Hongbiao Carl Lekaye · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the inter-reader agreement of the breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) lexicon. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn this IRB-approved, single-center, retrospective study, three breast radiologists, each with different levels of experience, reviewed 462 lesions in 421 routine clinical CEM according to the fifth edition of the BI-RADS lexicon for mammography and to the first version of the BI-RADS lexicon for CEM. Readers were blinded to patient outcomes and evaluated breast and lesion features on low-energy (LE) images (breast density, type of lesion, associated architectural distortion), lesion features on recombined (RC) images (type of enhancement, characteristic of mass enhancement, non-mass enhancement or enhancing asymmetry), and provided a final BI-RADS assessment. The inter-reader agreement was calculated for each evaluated feature using Fleiss' kappa coefficient. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated.

resultsThe inter-reader agreement was moderate to substantial for breast density (ĸ = 0.569), type of lesion on LE images (ĸ = 0.654), and type of enhancement (ĸ = 0.664). There was a moderate to substantial agreement on CEM mass enhancement descriptors. The agreement was fair to moderate for non-mass enhancement and enhancing asymmetry descriptors. Inter-reader agreement for LE and LE with RC BI-RADS assessment was moderate (ĸ = 0.421) and fair (ĸ = 0.364). Diagnostic performance was good and comparable for all readers.

conclusionInter-reader agreement of the CEM lexicon was moderate to substantial for most features. There was a low agreement for some RC descriptors, such as non-mass enhancement and enhancing asymmetry, and BI-RADS assessment, but this did not impact the diagnostic performance. KEY POINTS: Question Data on the reproducibility and inter-reader agreement for the first version of the BI-RADS lexicon dedicated to CEM are missing. Finding The inter-reader agreement for the lexicon was overall substantial to moderate, but it was lower for the descriptors for non-mass enhancement and enhancing asymmetry. Clinical relevance A common lexicon simplifies communication between specialists in clinical practice. The good inter-reader agreement confirms the effectiveness of the CEM-BIRADS in ensuring consistent communication. Detailed definitions of some descriptors (non-mass, enhancing asymmetry) are needed to ensure higher agreements.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsMammographyAdultAgedAged, 80 and overContrast MediaFemaleHumansMiddle AgedObserver VariationRadiology Information SystemsReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityContrast MediaContrast mediaMammographyObserver variation, Breast neoplasms

Identifiers

PMID39505735
PMCPMC12021736

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.