The Traumatic Brain Imaging Reporting and Data System (TBI-RADS) is being developed to standardize the reporting and data collection of imaging in patients with TBI. It will allow the radiology community to apply consistent terminology related to the diagnosis of TBI, reduce imaging interpretation variability and errors, enhance communication with referring clinicians, facilitate quality assurance and research and, in the long run, improve patient outcome.
Initially, TBI-RADS will be working on two major projects:
TBI Imaging White Papers
The goal of the white papers will be to summarize existing evidence supporting the use of different types of imaging in TBI patients, while formulating suitable recommendations for future imaging related to TBI. The white papers will be helpful for physicians who are not necessarily TBI experts but who take care of TBI patients in their daily practice.
In developing these papers, the Standardization Team will build on existing efforts by other groups in this area and will work with other societies in order to reach consensus. The white papers will include recommended, standardized imaging protocols.
Practical IT Tool for Applying the TBI National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Common Data Elements
This second project will build on the TBI Common Data Elements (CDE) developed by NINDS. It will consist of an easy-to-use computer system that will allow a clinician to review a head CT or brain MRI and intuitively navigate through the CDE fields to obtain a standardized report. This report will be similar in concept to BI-RADS for mammography and LI-RADS for the liver.
This tool will increase the quality of reports for imaging studies obtained in TBI patients on both the research and clinical sides. The tool will be available for both CT and MRI.