General Imaging

Nuclear medicine tests use radiopharmaceuticals that are administered via a vein, ingested, or inhaled.    The pharmaceuticals are radioactive and give off radiation which is captured with a special camera…

Yes, it can.  The CT has to be done with IV contrast.  This means that contrast dye is given through your vein before the CT is done.  Normally blood vessels…

Chronic changes on an imaging test implies that the finding being discussed by the radiologist is something that has been there for a long time. This implies that the radiologist…

Rule out is sometimes placed as a clinical indication for a test by ordering providers.  This can be problematic because rule out may not be covered by insurance.  This is…

The indication for a radiology report is the reason for the exam.  This is often included in the radiology report at the beginning or top of the report.   The…

Typos in radiology reports are common.  Radiologists have more frequently been using speech recognition software to produce reports. They dictate into a microphone and the speech recognition software composes a…

The body of the radiology report is where most of the detail is.  This is where the radiologist describes the findings on the imaging study.  The body of the report…

Impression is like the conclusion of a report.  It should be the place where the bottom line is.  Where the radiologist gives his most likely diagnosis.  Sometimes radiologists will give…

Probable diagnosis in a report implies a high degree of certainty with regards to a diagnosis.  There is however, a little room left for doubt and other possibilities.  This is…

Metastatic bones lesions are identified when a cancer has spread from its primary site.  Metastatic cancer has a worse prognosis.  Metastatic cancer can spread to many places throughout the body…

Metastasis means that cancer has spread to a site that is separate from the original cancer.  Finding metastasis carries a worse prognosis.   Metastasis can go to various sites in…