Radiology report phrases, explained
Radiology reports are written by one doctor for another, in a compact house style that has evolved to be precise rather than readable. Most of the sentences that frighten people are standard phrasing that means far less than it sounds like.
Each page below explains one phrase: what it means, why the radiologist chose those words, and — usually the reason you are here — what it does not mean.
Usually normal findings
16Phrases that sound clinical but are how a radiologist says nothing is wrong.
- “No acute intracranial abnormality”The scan found nothing new or urgent inside the skull — no bleeding, no swelling, no sign of injury needing treatment today.
- “Unremarkable”Normal. There was nothing worth remarking on.
- “Mild degenerative changes”Ordinary age-related wear in the joints or spine — the kind almost everyone develops, to some degree, as they get older.
- “No acute cardiopulmonary process”The chest X-ray shows no new problem with the heart or lungs — no pneumonia, no fluid around the lungs, no collapsed lung, and a heart that looks a normal size.
- “Grossly normal”Normal as far as this scan can show at the level of detail it provides.
- “No evidence of acute fracture”No broken bone was seen on this scan.
- “Degenerative disc disease”Normal age-related drying and flattening of the cushions between the spinal bones — despite the name, not a disease in the usual sense.
- “No focal consolidation”No patch of lung looks filled with fluid or infection — in practice, no visible pneumonia.
- “Within normal limits”Measured or assessed, and the result falls inside the normal range.
- “No mass effect or midline shift”Nothing inside the skull is pushing the brain out of position.
- “Trace”The smallest amount that can be seen — barely there.
- “No interval change”Nothing has changed since your previous scan.
- “Stable”The same as last time.
- “Sequelae of”The leftover traces of something that happened in the past.
- “No acute osseous abnormality”No new bone injury was seen — no fresh break, no collapse, nothing urgent involving the bones.
- “Patent”Open and flowing normally — said of a blood vessel or other tube.
Descriptive, no verdict
8Jargon that records a fact or a piece of history and carries no judgement at all.
- “Clinical correlation is recommended”The radiologist is saying: here is what the pictures show, and now the doctor who knows your symptoms needs to decide what it means for you.
- “Incidental finding”Something the scan picked up that has nothing to do with the reason you were scanned.
- “Consistent with”The appearance fits the named condition — usually one your doctor already suspected.
- “Status post”Simply means "after". You have had the procedure or operation named.
- “Motion degraded study”Movement during the scan blurred the images, so parts of the study are harder to read.
- “Age indeterminate”The scan can see the finding but cannot tell how old it is.
- “Probable”The radiologist thinks this is most likely what it is, without being certain.
- “Impression”The radiologist’s summary and conclusion — the part to read first if you read only one part.
Depends on context
10Real findings whose meaning the images alone cannot settle. Often the most frightening to read, and often the least conclusive.
- “Cannot be excluded”The images are not able to completely rule this out — which is a statement about the limits of the scan, not a suggestion that it is likely.
- “Nonspecific”The finding is real, but its appearance is not distinctive enough to say what is causing it.
- “Small pleural effusion”A small amount of fluid has collected in the space between the lung and the chest wall.
- “Hepatic steatosis”Fat has built up in the liver — commonly called fatty liver.
- “Small vessel ischemic changes”Small spots in the brain’s white matter, very common with age, reflecting changes in the smallest blood vessels.
- “Pulmonary nodule”A small round spot in the lung — usually well under an inch across, and in most cases harmless.
- “Hypodense lesion”An area that looks darker than the tissue around it on a CT scan.
- “T2 hyperintensity”An area that appears bright on one particular type of MRI image — usually meaning it holds more water than the tissue around it.
- “Prominent lymph nodes”Lymph nodes that look a little larger than average, but not clearly abnormal.
- “Borderline”A measurement sitting right at the edge between normal and abnormal.
Usually comes with a next step
2Phrases that normally arrive with a recommendation. The thing that matters is that the recommendation is not lost.
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These pages explain how phrases are commonly used in radiology reporting. They are not a diagnosis and not medical advice. Discuss your own results with your doctor.