When you receive a radiology report, you may notice the phrase “stable compared to prior.” In radiology, doctors carefully compare current scans—like X-rays, CTs, or MRIs—to older studies to see…
When people undergo imaging such as CT, MRI, or ultrasound, radiologists sometimes discover a finding that is unexpected and not contributing to the patients symptoms. These are called incidentalomas—findings that…
When a radiology report uses the terms remote fracture or acute fracture, it is describing how old a bone break is. These words help doctors determine whether the injury is…
Mass effect is a term used in CT and MRI reports to describe pressure or displacement of brain structures. It does not identify a specific disease but indicates that something…
The term “rim enhancement” can be found on imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans. In simple terms, rim enhancement refers to how a structure in the body looks…
One common phrase found in radiology reports is “lobulated mass.” This description refers to the appearance of a growth or abnormal structure on imaging such as CT scans, MRI, or…
When you read a radiology report, certain phrases can sound confusing or even alarming. One such phrase is “poorly marginated lesion.” This description tells you how a lesion, or abnormal…
When reading a radiology report, you may come across the phrase “well-circumscribed lesion.” This description can sound concerning, but it’s actually a technical way radiologists describe what they see on…
A radiology report can use terms like mild prominence to describe something that looks slightly larger, denser, or more visible than usual on imaging — but not strongly abnormal. In…
A radiology report may describe a “trace pleural effusion.” In simple terms, this means a very small amount of fluid is seen between the lung and the chest wall, or…
When you read a radiology report, sometimes you may come across the phrase “indeterminate nodule.” This wording can be confusing and even alarming if you are not familiar with medical…
When you read a radiology report, you may come across the phrase “no discrete mass.” This wording can be confusing if you are not familiar with medical terminology. In imaging,…