The Radiopaedia Reading Room Podcast 65. Cut and polish your radiology reports
12 snips
Jun 2, 2025 Michael Hartung, a radiologist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, leads Miranda Siemienowicz, a chest radiologist in Melbourne, and Jeffrey Kanne, also from Wisconsin-Madison, in engaging thought exercises to enhance radiology report clarity. They spotlight the importance of precise language and structured reporting to improve communication within medical teams. The discussion includes navigating the term 'normal' in reports and challenges faced by trainees, all while promoting actionable strategies for clearer and more effective radiology reporting.
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Avoid 'Cannot Exclude' Phrase
- Avoid the phrase 'cannot exclude' as it provides no useful probability and confuses referring clinicians.
- Provide a weighted probability and specific next steps to guide management effectively.
Avoid Vague 'Clinical Correlation'
- Avoid vague phrases like 'clinical correlation is recommended' as they add no actionable information.
- Instead, specify which clinical data or further tests are needed to clarify findings.
Use 'Normal' Clearly
- Use the word 'normal' liberally to clearly communicate that the study shows no actionable abnormalities.
- Clarify study limitations separately and avoid ambiguous qualifiers like 'no definite abnormality'.