Liver imaging : it is time to adopt standardized terminology

Liver imaging plays a vital role in the management of patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, progress in the field is challenged by nonuniform and inconsistent terminology in the published literature. The Steering Committee of the American College of Radiology (ACR)’s Liver Imaging Reporting And Data System (LI-RADS), in conjunction with the LI-RADS Lexicon Writing Group and the LI-RADS International Working Group, present this consensus document to establish a single universal liver imaging lexicon. The lexicon is intended for use in research, education, and clinical care of patients at risk for HCC (i.e., the LI-RADS population) and in the general population (i.e., even when LI-RADS algorithms are not applicable). We anticipate that the universal adoption of this lexicon will provide research, educational, and clinical benefits