Understanding Your Radiology Report

Understanding Your Radiology Report From a Trusted Radiologist Team

Have you ever looked at your radiology report and needed help understanding what your results actually mean? For those who have undergone a scan like a 3D mammography, an MRI, a CT Scan, or even a simple X-ray you may be anxious to receive (and understand) the results.

Once your scan is completed, the radiologist writes a report summarizing their findings. They then share this report with your doctor. You can read the report online in your patient portal or if your healthcare provider has a patient portal.

Radiology reports are geared towards medical professionals, and the medical jargon within the report gives your doctor the information they need to diagnose or manage your condition. Unfortunately for patients, the terminology in these reports may be difficult – if not impossible – to understand. Your doctor will interpret the results and explain them to you in everyday words; however, if you want to have some basic understanding of your radiology report, it may be easier than you think!

Typical Radiology Report Layout

The first section contains easy-to-understand information, such as the name of the test you underwent, the date of the study, and the name of the doctor who ordered the study. The language in the subsequent sections is more complex:

Indication

Also known as the clinical information section, the indication portion of your report is a brief section in which the ordering physician tells the radiologist why you are having the test. For example, if you dropped a bowling ball on your foot, it might say, “trauma to the foot.”

Comparison

In this section, your radiologist notes whether you have undergone previous scans for the condition. If so, your radiologist will note how the current scan compares to previous imaging.

Technique

This section will outline how the exam was performed, and if contrast was administered, the type of contrast and amount will be included.

Findings

In this critical section, your radiologist reports what the test results conclude. Most radiology reports list each scanned region or organ on a separate line; however, some reports will be in paragraph form. The radiologist will discuss each area imaged and note anything unusual. The area may be described as “normal” or “unremarkable” if they do not see anything concerning. 

Impression

The impression section is the most important part of the report. In this section, your radiologist summarizes their findings and if there is any recommended follow-up.

Reach Out to Your Radiology Team and Doctor for More Information

Naugatuck Valley Radiology is here to support you. As your trusted radiologists, we advise you to contact your doctor if you have seen your radiology report and still need help understanding it. The ordering physician can explain what they were looking for and what they found.