Understanding Your Radiology Report

After your imaging scan, a specialist doctor called a radiologist reviews your images and writes a report describing what they see. This report is sent to your referring doctor (GP or specialist), who will discuss the findings with you.

The report is a medical document written for doctors, so it uses technical language. However, understanding the general structure and common terms can help you feel more informed when discussing results with your doctor.

Note: The radiologist interprets the images, but your referring doctor is the best person to explain what the findings mean for your specific situation and what happens next.

Most radiology reports follow a standard structure:

• Patient details: Your name, date of birth, and the date of the scan • Clinical details/indication: The reason for the scan (from your referral) • Technique: What type of scan was done and how (e.g., "CT abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast") • Comparison: Whether previous scans were available for comparison • Findings: The detailed description of what the radiologist sees - this is the main body of the report • Impression/conclusion: A summary of the key findings and the radiologist's interpretation

The "Impression" section at the end is usually the most important part - it summarises the radiologist's overall assessment in plain terms.

Some frequently used radiology terms:

• Unremarkable / Normal: No abnormality found in that area • No acute abnormality: Nothing urgent or unexpected; there may be minor chronic changes • Incidental finding: Something noticed that wasn't the reason for the scan - usually benign and doesn't need treatment • Stable: Unchanged compared to a previous scan (used in monitoring) • Correlation recommended: The radiologist suggests comparing findings with your symptoms or other tests • Cannot be excluded: The radiologist can't definitively rule something out based on the images alone - further investigation may be suggested • Benign: Non-cancerous • Lesion: A general term for any abnormality - it does NOT mean cancer • Degenerative changes: Normal wear-and-tear changes, often seen in joints and the spine as people age

• Book a follow-up with your referring doctor to discuss the results - they ordered the scan for a reason and are best placed to explain what the findings mean for you • Don't panic about unfamiliar medical terms - many findings sound scary in medical language but are actually common and benign • Ask questions - if something in the report concerns you, write down your questions before your appointment • Keep a copy - it's your right to have a copy of your report and images. These are useful for future reference and if you see other specialists • Don't self-diagnose - the internet can make any finding sound alarming. Trust your doctor's interpretation in the context of your full medical history

If results require urgent attention, your referring doctor will usually be contacted directly by the radiologist. For non-urgent results, turnaround is typically 24-48 hours.

Typical turnaround times for radiology reports:

• Urgent/emergency scans: Reported within hours (or immediately if critical) • Standard outpatient scans: 1-2 business days • Complex cases (MRI, PET, detailed studies): 2-3 business days • BreastScreen screening mammograms: the program advises its own results timeframes - check with BreastScreen directly

Your referring doctor receives the report electronically. Some clinics also offer patient portals where you can view your report directly. If you haven't heard back within a week, it's reasonable to contact your doctor's office to check.

Remember: no news is generally good news. If something urgent or concerning is found, your doctor will typically contact you promptly.

You have the right to access your medical images. Most imaging clinics now provide images in one of these ways:

• Online patient portal: Many clinics give you a login to view images and reports online • CD/USB: Available on request, usually at no charge or a small fee • Cloud sharing: Some clinics upload images to a cloud platform you can access

Having your images is useful if you:

• See a specialist who wants to review the original images (not just the report) • Move to a new area and change doctors • Need a scan compared to previous imaging done elsewhere • Want to keep your own medical records

Ask the clinic about image access when you book or at your appointment.