Learn
Understand the words on your radiology report.
Plain-English explainers for the terms that sound alarming but usually aren't — written by a radiologist. Start with the basics below, then look up whatever your report actually says.
A radiology report is written for your doctor, not for you. It's dense, full of qualifiers, and built around words that mean something specific in radiology but sound frightening in everyday English. If you've just opened your report on a patient portal and felt your stomach drop, that's an understandable reaction to the language — not necessarily to your health.
Most reports follow the same three parts. Technique describes how the scan was done. Findings is the detailed, structure-by-structure observations. Impression is the radiologist's short summary — the bottom line. If you only read one part, read the Impression first.
A quick reassurance
Cautious, hedged wording is the norm in radiology, not a signal that something is wrong. Radiologists describe what they see and qualify how certain they are — which is exactly why a normal report can still read as ominous.
Look up a term
Browse the explainers below by the kind of phrase you're trying to decode. Each one is a short, plain-language read.
Good news that doesn't sound like it
Words that mean things are fine — but read as alarming.