ACR Reporting and Data Systems (RADS) provide standardized imaging findings terminology, report organization, assessment structure and classification for reporting and data collection in patient imaging.
RADS News and Announcements
- Primer for using PI-RADS v2.1 for Prostate MRI Activity - Earn CME (renewed November 2024)
- Incorporating O-RADS US v2022 in Daily Clinical Practice Webinar - Earn CME (released September 2024)
- O-RADS MRI: A Guide to the Lexicon, Risk Score and Technique Webinar - Earn CME (released September 2024)
What are ACR Reporting And Data Systems (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.
ACR pioneered 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 exclusive 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. ACR’s 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.
- Assessment Categories: They provide categories for assessing the probability of disease
- 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 led to the establishment of the ACR RADS Steering Committee. You can find more details in the JACR article here.
ACR RADS in Development
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Works-in Progress |
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Soft Tissue-RADS |
Soft Tissue Lesions |
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Brain Tumor-RADS |
Brain Tumor |
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TBI-RADS |
Traumatic Brain Injury |
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PE-RADS |
Pulmonary Embolism |
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VI-RADS |
Vesical Imaging |
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KI-RADS |
Kidney Masses | |
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Works Under Consideration |
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No current topics under consideration |
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Collaborative RADS with ACR
This collection of expert consensus papers are collaborative efforts developed by multi-society multidisciplinary working groups with the goal of improving communication between radiologists and referring physicians.
Program |
Collaborating Societies |
Title |
Year |
| CAD-RAD | SCCT, ACC, ACR, NASCI |
CAD-RADSTM 2.0 2022 Coronary Artery Disease – Reporting and Data System An Expert Consensus Document of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the North America Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (NASCI) | 2022 |
| I-TIRADS | International Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound Working Group Steering Committee (European Thyroid Association, the Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology), ACR |
International Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (I-TIRADS) Lexicon – Categories and Descriptors Definitions (publication pending) |
2022 |