Radiology Report Terms Explained in Plain English

Abdominal Lymphadenopathy

Abdominal Lymphadenopathy is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Adrenal Adenoma

An adrenal adenoma is a usually benign adrenal gland nodule often found incidentally.

Adrenal Hyperplasia

Adrenal Hyperplasia is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Adrenal Mass

Adrenal Mass is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Air Trapping

Air Trapping is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Aortic Aneurysm

Aortic Aneurysm is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Aortic Atherosclerosis

Aortic Atherosclerosis is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Aortic Dissection

Aortic Dissection is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Appendicitis On CT

Appendicitis On CT is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Appendicolith

Appendicolith is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Arachnoid Cyst

Arachnoid Cyst is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

Ascending Aortic Aneurysm is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Ascites

Ascites is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Atelectasis

Atelectasis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Axillary Lymph Node

Axillary Lymph Node is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Baker Cyst

Baker Cyst is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Benign Calcification

Benign Calcification is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Biliary Duct Dilation

Biliary Duct Dilation is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bladder Mass

Bladder Mass is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bladder Stone

Bladder Stone is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bladder Wall Thickening

Bladder Wall Thickening is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bone Cyst

Bone Cyst is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bone Island

Bone Island is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Bone Lesion

Bone Lesion is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bone Tumor

Bone Tumor is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Bowel Wall Thickening

Bowel Wall Thickening is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Brain Lesion

Brain lesion is a broad term for an abnormal area seen in the brain on imaging.

Breast Calcification

Breast Calcification is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Calcified Lung Nodule

Calcified Lung Nodule is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Cardiomegaly

Cardiomegaly is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Carotid Calcification

Carotid Calcification is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Cholelithiasis

Cholelithiasis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Chronic Small Vessel Ischemic Changes

Chronic Small Vessel Ischemic Changes is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Cirrhotic Liver

Cirrhotic Liver is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Colonic Mass

Colonic Mass is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Colonic Polyp

Colonic Polyp is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Common Bile Duct Dilation

Common Bile Duct Dilation is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Complex Renal Cyst

Complex Renal Cyst is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Compression Fracture

Compression Fracture is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Coronary Artery Calcification

Coronary Artery Calcification is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease means the spinal discs show age-related wear or dehydration on imaging.

Descending Aortic Aneurysm

Descending Aortic Aneurysm is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Disc Bulge

Disc bulge means a spinal disc extends beyond its usual margin in a broad, generalized way.

Disc Herniation

Disc herniation means part of a spinal disc is bulging or displaced beyond its usual space.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis means small pouches are present in the colon wall, often found incidentally on abdominal imaging.

Emphysema

Emphysema is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Endometrial Thickening

Endometrial Thickening is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Enlarged Cervical Lymph Node

Enlarged Cervical Lymph Node is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Enlarged Lymph Nodes Chest

Enlarged Lymph Nodes Chest is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Enlarged Mediastinal Lymph Node

Enlarged Mediastinal Lymph Node is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged Prostate is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Facet Arthropathy

Facet Arthropathy is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Fatty Liver

Fatty Liver is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Focal Nodular Hyperplasia

Focal Nodular Hyperplasia is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Gallstones

Gallstones are solid deposits in the gallbladder seen on imaging.

Ground-Glass Opacity

Ground-glass opacity is a hazy area in the lung seen on CT that does not fully hide the lung structures underneath.

Hepatic Hemangioma

Hepatic Hemangioma is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Hepatic Steatosis

Hepatic steatosis means fat was seen in the liver on imaging.

Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernia means part of the stomach extends upward through the diaphragm.

Hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Kidney Cyst

A kidney cyst is a fluid-filled sac in the kidney, often found incidentally.

Liver Cyst

Liver Cyst is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Liver Lesion

Liver lesion is a broad term for a focal area in the liver that looks different from surrounding tissue.

Lung Nodule

A lung nodule is a small spot in the lung, often found incidentally on chest CT.

Lung Opacity

Lung opacity is a broad radiology term for an area of increased density in the lung on imaging.

Mastoid Effusion

Mastoid Effusion is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Meningioma

Meningioma is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy

Mesenteric Lymphadenopathy is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Ovarian Cyst

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled structure in or on the ovary, commonly seen on pelvic imaging.

Ovarian Mass

Ovarian Mass is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Pancreatic Cyst

A pancreatic cyst is a fluid-containing lesion in the pancreas seen on imaging.

Pancreatic Duct Dilation

Pancreatic Duct Dilation is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Pelvic Free Fluid

Pelvic Free Fluid is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Pericardial Effusion

Pericardial Effusion is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Pleural Plaque

Pleural Plaque is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Prostate Enlargement

Prostate Enlargement is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism means a blood clot is seen in the arteries of the lungs.

Pulmonary Scarring

Pulmonary Scarring is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Renal Atrophy

Renal Atrophy is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Renal Mass

A renal mass is a focal area in the kidney that looks different from surrounding tissue on imaging.

Renal Scarring

Renal Scarring is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Sacroiliitis

Sacroiliitis is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis means the spinal canal is narrower than expected on imaging.

Splenomegaly

Splenomegaly means the spleen is enlarged on imaging.

Thyroid Enlargement

Thyroid Enlargement is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Thyroid Nodule

A thyroid nodule is a focal lump or small area in the thyroid gland seen on imaging.

Uterine Fibroid

Uterine Fibroid is a radiology finding term that patients often want explained in plain English after seeing it in a report.

White Matter Hyperintensities

White Matter Hyperintensities is an imaging finding patients often search after seeing technical report wording.

Acute pulmonary embolism in the right lower lobe pulmonary artery.

"Acute pulmonary embolism in the right lower lobe pulmonary artery." is radiology report language linked to pulmonary embolism and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Broad-based disc bulge at L4-L5.

"Broad-based disc bulge at L4-L5." is radiology report language linked to disc bulge and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Cholelithiasis without evidence of acute cholecystitis.

"Cholelithiasis without evidence of acute cholecystitis." is radiology report language linked to gallstones and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Complex adnexal cystic lesion, ultrasound follow-up recommended.

"Complex adnexal cystic lesion, ultrasound follow-up recommended." is radiology report language linked to ovarian cyst and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Complex cystic lesion of the left kidney, further characterization recommended.

"Complex cystic lesion of the left kidney, further characterization recommended." is radiology report language linked to kidney cyst and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Diffuse hepatic steatosis.

"Diffuse hepatic steatosis." is radiology report language linked to hepatic steatosis and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Disc extrusion causing mass effect on the traversing nerve root.

"Disc extrusion causing mass effect on the traversing nerve root." is radiology report language linked to disc herniation and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Enhancing lesion in the left frontal lobe.

"Enhancing lesion in the left frontal lobe." is radiology report language linked to brain lesion and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Enlarged spleen measuring 15 cm in length.

"Enlarged spleen measuring 15 cm in length." is radiology report language linked to splenomegaly and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Findings compatible with pulmonary embolism with evidence of right heart strain.

"Findings compatible with pulmonary embolism with evidence of right heart strain." is radiology report language linked to pulmonary embolism and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Gallstones within the gallbladder lumen.

"Gallstones within the gallbladder lumen." is radiology report language linked to gallstones and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

hepatic lesion

"hepatic lesion" is radiology report language linked to liver lesion and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

hypodense liver lesion

"hypodense liver lesion" is radiology report language linked to liver lesion and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

incidental pulmonary nodule

"incidental pulmonary nodule" is radiology report language linked to lung nodule and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Incidental solid pulmonary nodule, follow-up per risk guidelines.

"Incidental solid pulmonary nodule, follow-up per risk guidelines." is radiology report language linked to lung nodule and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Indeterminate adrenal nodule, correlation with dedicated adrenal protocol recommended.

"Indeterminate adrenal nodule, correlation with dedicated adrenal protocol recommended." is radiology report language linked to adrenal adenoma and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Indeterminate enhancing renal mass in the left kidney.

"Indeterminate enhancing renal mass in the left kidney." is radiology report language linked to renal mass and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Indeterminate liver lesion in segment IV.

"Indeterminate liver lesion in segment IV." is radiology report language linked to liver lesion and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Left adrenal adenoma.

"Left adrenal adenoma." is radiology report language linked to adrenal adenoma and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Left basilar airspace opacity, correlate for pneumonia.

"Left basilar airspace opacity, correlate for pneumonia." is radiology report language linked to lung opacity and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Left paracentral disc herniation at L5-S1.

"Left paracentral disc herniation at L5-S1." is radiology report language linked to disc herniation and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

mild diffuse hepatic steatosis

"mild diffuse hepatic steatosis" is radiology report language linked to hepatic steatosis and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Mild fatty infiltration of the liver.

"Mild fatty infiltration of the liver." is radiology report language linked to hepatic steatosis and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

mild hepatic steatosis

"mild hepatic steatosis" is radiology report language linked to hepatic steatosis and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Mild posterior disc bulge without significant canal stenosis.

"Mild posterior disc bulge without significant canal stenosis." is radiology report language linked to disc bulge and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Mild splenomegaly.

"Mild splenomegaly." is radiology report language linked to splenomegaly and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Moderate cervical degenerative disc change with disc space narrowing.

"Moderate cervical degenerative disc change with disc space narrowing." is radiology report language linked to degenerative disc disease and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Moderate hiatal hernia noted incidentally.

"Moderate hiatal hernia noted incidentally." is radiology report language linked to hiatal hernia and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Moderate lumbar spinal stenosis at L4-L5.

"Moderate lumbar spinal stenosis at L4-L5." is radiology report language linked to spinal stenosis and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Multilevel degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

"Multilevel degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine." is radiology report language linked to degenerative disc disease and is best understood in the context of the full imaging report.

Lung Nodule

A lung nodule is a small spot in the lung, often found incidentally on chest CT.

Liver Lesion

Liver lesion is a broad term for a focal area in the liver that looks different from surrounding tissue.

Renal Mass

A renal mass is a focal area in the kidney that looks different from surrounding tissue on imaging.

Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism means a blood clot is seen in the arteries of the lungs.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis means the spinal canal is narrower than expected on imaging.

Thyroid Nodule

A thyroid nodule is a focal lump or small area in the thyroid gland seen on imaging.

Abdominal Bloating: Imaging-Related Causes Doctors May Consider

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Abdominal Pain After Eating: Imaging-Related Causes Doctors May Consider

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Bloating: Imaging-Related Causes Doctors May Consider

Bloating is a symptom search that can overlap with several structural and non-structural causes. Imaging may be used when clinicians need radiology clues that fit the rest of the history and exam.

Blood In Urine: Imaging-Related Causes Doctors May Consider

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Chest Pain When Breathing: Why Imaging Might Be Used

Chest pain that worsens with breathing can raise concern for pleural irritation, lung-base inflammation, pulmonary embolism, or chest wall causes. Imaging helps narrow the possibilities when symptoms are concerning.

Chronic Cough: Imaging-Related Causes Doctors May Consider

Chronic Cough is a common symptom search that can overlap with several organs or body systems. Imaging is usually ordered when clinicians need structural clues that fit the rest of the history and exam.