Abbreviations and codes
In order to obtain maximum certainty in assessing breast symptoms, clinicians, radiologists and pathologists work together each speciality contributing their expertise
before reaching a diagnosis. By summarising the findings on examination and each investigation into a code and abbreviation, discrepancies are highlighted aiding decisions
in how to proceed further.
Below is a summary of symbols and codes used for assessments of breast complaints.
Breast diagram
Classifications
Palpation
Mammography
Ultrasound
1 area of interest,
normal
P1 Normal
Tissue
M1 Normal
Tissue
U1 Normal
2 Benign, noncancerous
3 Probably benign,
non-cancerous
4 Probably
cancerous,
malignant
5 Cancerous,
malignant
P2 Benign
M2 Benign
U2 Benign
P3 Probably
Benign
P4 Probably
Malignant
M3 Probably
Benign
M4 Probably
Malignant
U3 Intermediate
P5 Malignant
M5 Malignant
U5 Malignant
Features
Calcification
Scar
Pain
U4 Suspicious of
Malignancy
FNA (Fine needle
aspiration cytology)
C1 insufficient, or
compatible with
cyst or lipoma
depending on
context
C2 Benign Pattern
Core Biopsies
C3 Atypical,
probably benign.
C4 Suspicious,
probably malignant.
B3 Probably benign
C5 Malignant
(cannot say
whether invasive or
DCIS)
B5 Malignant
B5a non-invasive breast cancer
B5b invasive breast cancer
B5d cancer, not of breast origin (e.g.
lymphoma)
B1 Normal breast tissue or
inadequate depending on context
B2 Benign
B4 Probably malignant