To assess the impact of a Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) structured template on quality of reports for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


 A departmental structured LI-RADS template was adopted in April 2015.  Reporting of the following was recorded for each lesion and compared between template and free-text reports: (1) LI-RADS category, (2) Couinaud segment, and (3) unequivocal description of presence or absence of major LI-RADS HCC features: arterial phase hyperenhancement, "washout," diameter, threshold growth, and "capsule."


 LI-RADS category was reported in 23 of 125 (18.4%) HCCs with free text and in 178 of 181 (98.3%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).  Use of structured LI-RADS template resulted in more comprehensive and consistent reporting of major HCC features and LI-RADS category compared with free-text reporting.
LI-RADS
Impact of a Structured Report Template on the Quality of CT and MRI Reports for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis.PURPOSE
 To assess the impact of a Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) structured template on quality of reports for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


 A departmental structured LI-RADS template was adopted in April 2015.  Reporting of the following was recorded for each lesion and compared between template and free-text reports: (1) LI-RADS category, (2) Couinaud segment, and (3) unequivocal description of presence or absence of major LI-RADS HCC features: arterial phase hyperenhancement, "washout," diameter, threshold growth, and "capsule."


 There were 306 definite or probable HCCs, 125 (40.8%) reported with free text and 181 (59.2%) with the template.  LI-RADS category was reported in 23 of 125 (18.4%) HCCs with free text and in 178 of 181 (98.3%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).  Couinaud segment was reported in 102 of 125 (81.6%) HCCs with free text and in 181 of 181 (100%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).  Diameter was reported in 118 of 125 (94.4%) HCCs with free text and in 181 of 181 (100%) HCCs with the template (P = .001).  Threshold growth was reported in 36 of 125 (28.8%) HCCs with free text and in 169 of 181 (93.4%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).  Arterial phase hyperenhancement was reported in 101 of 125 (80.8%) HCCs with free text and in 177 of 181 (97.8%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).  Washout was reported in 93 of 125 (74.4%) HCCs with free text and in 178 of 181 (98.3%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).  Capsule was reported in 24 of 125 (19.2%) HCCs with free text and in 176 of 181 (97.2%) HCCs with the template (P < .001).


 Use of structured LI-RADS template resulted in more comprehensive and consistent reporting of major HCC features and LI-RADS category compared with free-text reporting.
template