ACR updates LI-RADS to improve communication, overall quality of care

Michael Walter | | Radiology Business | Radiology Associations

The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced Thursday that it has updated its standards for liver cancer screening and surveillance ultrasound exams. These new changes to the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) were made to “improve communication with referring clinicians” and advance the overall quality of care being provided to patients. The updated system is a 24-page document available for free on the ACR’s website.

Claude B. Sirlin, MD, chair of the ACR Committee on LI-RADS, said in a prepared statement that this update was a part of the college’s goal to keep LI-RADS up to date with the latest information.

“The new version of 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,” Sirlin said. “We continually strive to improve LI-RADS to enhance communication with referring clinicians, speed accurate diagnosis and improve patient care.”

“This represents the first standardized approach for interpreting and reporting these exams,” Aya Kamaya, MD, chair of the U.S. LI-RADS Working Group, said in the same statement.

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Related Content

ACR asks radiologists to mobilize in support of 2 key payment-related legislative proposals
Radiology societies say MACs’ refusal to cover imaging guidance for key procedure poses safety risk
Rad tech groups propose creating new entry-level role to relieve radiology staffing shortages
Radiology and imaging staff wages continue to rise in ‘perpetually tight labor market’
In Canada, discovery of unapproved viewing stations leads to review of 3K mammograms
Court hits technologist with monetary remedies, permanent injunction

Around the web

Health Imaging
Nearly $800,000 settlement offered to family of man who died during MRI exam

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.