How To Understand Radiology Reports

In modern medicine, precision and accuracy are not optional – they are essential. Every diagnosis, every treatment plan, and every outcome depends on reliable medical data. Among the most critical tools in this process are radiology reports. These reports guide doctors in diagnosing conditions, planning treatment, and tracking changes over time. Yet, while designed for medical professionals, understanding the basics of a radiology report can help you take an active role in your own care.

Knowing how these reports are structured – and what common terms mean – can reduce confusion and help you have more informed conversations with your doctor.

Why Radiology Reports Matter in Diagnosis and Treatment

Radiology reports are more than just summaries of your scans. They directly influence clinical decision-making. Doctors use them to detect disease, evaluate how a condition is changing, and assess whether a treatment is working.

But here’s the challenge: these reports are usually written for other healthcare providers – not for patients. This can make them hard to understand. Learning the basic structure of a radiology report can change that. It can empower you to ask better questions and make more confident decisions about your health.

Do All Radiology Reports Look the Same?

While most radiology reports follow a general structure, the exact format may vary depending on the hospital or clinic. Some facilities prefer short, focused reports. Others include detailed descriptions and extra commentary. The subspecialty (like oncology or mammography), the equipment used, and even the radiologist’s training can all affect how a report is written.

Despite these differences, most radiology reports include five key sections that remain consistent across institutions.

The 5 Main Sections of a Radiology Report

1. Indication

This section explains why the scan was ordered. It usually includes your symptoms and the clinical question your doctor wants to answer. For example, if you’ve had persistent lower back pain, the report might say: “Indication: Chronic lower back pain. Rule out disc herniation.”

Understanding this section helps you see what the radiologist is looking for.

2. Technique

Here, the radiologist describes how the images were taken. This includes the type of scan (like MRI, CT, or ultrasound), any contrast materials used, and whether there were challenges – such as blurry images due to movement.

For example, a technique note might read: “MRI of the brain performed with and without contrast using standard axial, coronal, and sagittal sequences.”

This information is essential for quality control and for comparing future scans.

3. Comparison

This section states whether the radiologist had previous scans to compare. If available, older images can help show whether something is new, growing, shrinking, or stable. The report might say: “Comparison made with abdominal CT from March 2022.”

Having something to compare can lead to more accurate interpretations and better clinical decisions.

4. Findings

This is the most technical part of the report. It’s where the radiologist describes exactly what they saw in the scan.

Anatomic Description:
This refers to the parts of the body that were examined during the imaging study. It includes specific organs, tissues, and other structures that are relevant to the area being assessed.

Abnormal Findings:
Any differences from normal anatomy—such as unusual shapes, sizes, or densities—are noted here. The radiologist describes each abnormality in detail, including where it is located and any features that help identify its nature, such as shape, size, and signal appearance.

For example: “There is a mass involving the left pterygopalatine fossa extending laterally along the masticator space to involve the left mandible. This abnormality expands the pterygopalatine fossa and homogeneously enhances. The mass appears to superiorly displace the internal maxillary artery. The lesion appears to arise in the left pterygopalatine fossa and extends laterally and erodes the inner cortex of the mandible with extension into the medullary cavity. There is enhancement involving the region of the left mandibular notch and the lesion appears to surround the expected location of the inferior alveolar nerve within the ramus of the mandible. The superior aspect of the lesion extends to the condylar neck. No obvious involvement is identified involving the left masseter muscle.

Imaging of the neck demonstrates some asymmetrically prominent left-sided lymph nodes. There also appears to be slight asymmetrical enhancement involving the left submandibular gland. Significance of this is unclear. No evidence of obstructive lesions identified within the floor of mouth.”

Though this section may seem overwhelming, even skimming it can help you identify what was examined and what was found.

5. Impression

This is the summary and the most important part for most patients. The impression gives the radiologist’s overall interpretation, including possible diagnoses or recommendations for further testing.

Diagnosis:
If the imaging clearly points to a specific condition, the radiologist may provide a direct diagnosis here. This usually happens when the scan features strongly match a known disease or pathology.

Differential Diagnosis:
When the exact diagnosis isn’t certain, the radiologist may list several possible conditions that could explain the findings. This helps direct further testing or specialist input to narrow down the cause.

Clinical Correlation:
In some cases, the radiologist connects what’s seen on the images with the patient’s symptoms or medical history. This makes the report more meaningful and relevant to the overall clinical picture.

Recommendations:
If more tests, follow-up imaging, or consultations are needed, the radiologist will mention them here. These suggestions help the referring physician plan the next steps in diagnosis or treatment.

Example: 

“1. Diffusely homogeneously enhancing mass involving the left pterygopalatine fossa extending laterally along the masticator space to involve the mandible. The lack of hypervascularity makes juvenile angiofibroma less likely. Differential diagnosis includes low-grade mesenchymal tumor, neurogenic tumor, fibromatosis, IgG4 associated disease, or, less likely, lymphoma.

2. Asymmetrically enlarged left level 2 and level 5 lymph nodes.

3. Findings suggestive of asymmetrical enhancement involving the left submandibular gland.”

This section helps your doctor understand what needs to happen next.

What “Unremarkable” Means in Your Report

One common word in radiology reports is “unremarkable”. It simply means that the area examined appears normal. While it may sound dismissive, it’s actually good news—there’s nothing wrong in that specific area.

What to Do If You Still Have Questions

It’s normal to feel uncertain after reading a radiology report. Here’s what you can do:

1. Talk to Your Doctor

Always schedule time to review the report with your referring physician. They can explain the findings in simpler language and help you understand what it means for your care. You can ask questions and clarify next steps during this conversation.

2. Get a Second Opinion

If you’re unsure about the report – or if your scan wasn’t reviewed by a subspecialty radiologist – a second opinion can offer extra insight. Subspecialist radiologists focus on specific parts of the body and may pick up on subtle findings others might miss.

A second opinion can:

• Confirm or correct your diagnosis
• Offer peace of mind before surgery or treatment
• Reveal additional findings missed the first time

Services are now available online where you can upload your images and receive a second opinion within 24 hours.

Final Thoughts

Radiology reports are at the heart of modern medical care. Understanding their structure and content can help you play an active role in your health journey. By knowing what to look for you become a better partner in your own treatment.

If something isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or seek a second opinion. \

Precision matters and your health is worth that extra clarity.