The update allowed for diagnosis-based descriptors, such as "post-surgical change," rather than requiring a painstaking description of every shape and margin when a cause was already known.
Proper gain settings, depth adjustment (to see the pectoralis muscle ), and firm transducer pressure are vital to reducing artifacts and getting a "crisp" image. Why It Matters Today
The 2014 standards laid the groundwork for today’s automated whole-breast ultrasound (ABUS) and advanced computer-aided diagnosis. By standardizing how we describe what we see, we ensure that every patient receives a consistent, high-quality assessment, regardless of which clinic they visit.
For the first time, ultrasound BI-RADS included descriptors for elasticity , allowing sonographers to characterize the stiffness of a lesion—a key indicator of potential malignancy.
Breast US - American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
Achieving these diagnostic results requires meticulous technique. According to AIUM Practice Parameters, high-quality breast imaging in 2014 relied on: