ACR Updates Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System

The ACR has released the latest version of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS), a set of standards and criteria used for interpreting liver studies. The changes include: • Unification of LI-RADS and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) categorization • Change from list format to algorithmic format for assignment of LI-RADS category codes • Expansion of the LI-RADS lexicon of terms • Incorporation of a comprehensive atlas that illustrates major and ancillary imaging features, as well as key lexicon terms • Incorporation of management implications for each LR category • Incorporation of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technical requirements Currently, LI-RADS applies to patients with cirrhosis or those at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) — cancer of the liver. “LI-RADS was developed and refined by a committee of radiologists with expertise in CT and MRI of the liver and with input from hepatologists, heptobiliary surgeons, interventionalists and pathologists. LI-RADS can help radiologists to improve the consistency and clarity with which they interpret and report CT and MRI examinations of the liver in patients with cirrhosis or other risk factors for development of hepatocellular carcinoma. LI-RADS is also a valuable educational tool that will be useful to radiologists at all levels of training and expertise,” said Claude Sirlin, MD, chair of the ACR Committee on LI-RADS, in the press release.