The American College of Radiology (ACR) has refined its standardized system for liver cancer screening and surveillance ultrasound imaging exams. These changes can help improve communication with referring clinicians and raise the quality of patient care, education, and research, according to the society.

“The new version of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) highlights technique, interpretation, reporting, and data collection for screening and surveillance in patients the need for detecting liver cancer early, when it is potentially curable, by screening at-risk patients,” says Claude B. Sirlin, MD, chair of the ACR Committee on LI-RADS. “We continually strive to improve LI-RADS to enhance communication with referring clinicians, speed accurate diagnosis, and improve patient care.”

The 24-page US LI-RADS has screening and surveillance categories, a visualization scoring system, and technical recommendations for performing a screening or surveillance ultrasound exam. “This  represents the first standardized approach for interpreting and reporting these exams,” says Aya Kamaya, MD, chair of the US LI-RADS Working Group that developed the new system.    

Access to LI-RADS is free. The update was written by members of the US LI-RADS Working Group and approved by the LI-RADS Steering Committee.