How to Read Your Radiology Report

The first time I got a radiology report, I had no idea what I was reading. The word “unremarkable” appeared several times. Was that good? Was that bad? It sounded like my doctor was unimpressed with my organs.

It turns out “unremarkable” is good. It means nothing abnormal was found. But nobody tells you that. The report just shows up in your patient portal — a wall of dense, clinical text written by a radiologist for your referring physician. You are reading someone else's mail.

I have received dozens of radiology reports over the years. Here is what I wish someone had explained to me the first time.

The structure

Most radiology reports follow the same basic structure. Once you know what each section is for, the document becomes much less intimidating.

The first section describes the exam itself — what type of scan was done, what part of your body was scanned, and whether contrast was used. This is straightforward. If you had a CT of your chest with contrast, it will say so here.

The next section is the technique or protocol. This is mostly for other doctors — it describes the technical parameters of how the scan was performed. You can skip this section entirely. It will not help you understand your results.

Then comes the comparison section. If you have had previous scans, the radiologist will note that they compared the new images to the old ones. This is actually important — it means the radiologist is looking for changes over time, not just reading the current scan in isolation.

The findings section is the longest and most detailed part. This is where the radiologist describes everything they see, organ by organ, structure by structure. This is also where most of the confusing language lives.

Finally, the impression section at the bottom is the summary. If you read nothing else, read this. It contains the radiologist's conclusions — what they found, what they think it means, and what they recommend doing next. This is the most important section for you.

The words that trip you up

Radiology reports have their own vocabulary. Here are the terms that confused me the most, and what they actually mean.

“Unremarkable” means normal. Nothing abnormal was found. This is what you want to see.

“Within normal limits” means the same thing. Both are good.

“Lesion” sounds terrifying but it is a general term for any area of tissue that looks different from its surroundings. A bruise is a lesion. A scar is a lesion. It does not mean cancer. It means something is there and the radiologist is noting it.

“Nodule” means a small, rounded area. Lung nodules, for example, are extremely common and the vast majority are benign. The report will usually include the size and may recommend follow-up imaging to watch it over time.

“Mass” is a larger area — generally bigger than a nodule. This word understandably causes anxiety, but like “lesion,” it is a descriptive term, not a diagnosis.

“Hypodense” and “hyperdense” describe how bright or dark something appears on the scan relative to surrounding tissue. These are observations, not conclusions. The radiologist is describing what they see, and will then interpret what it might mean.

“Incidental finding” means the radiologist noticed something that was not the reason for your scan. This happens often. You go in for a chest CT and they notice something in your liver. It does not necessarily mean something is wrong — it means they are thorough and are noting everything they see.

“Clinical correlation recommended” means the radiologist is saying “I see something, but I need more information to know what it means.” They are asking your referring doctor to connect the imaging findings with your symptoms, history, and other test results.

What to do after you read it

Read the impression section first. That gives you the headline. Then go back through the findings if you want the detail.

Write down every term you do not understand. Do not try to Google them one by one at midnight — that path leads to anxiety, not answers.

Bring your questions to your doctor. A radiology report is one piece of information. Your doctor has the full picture — your symptoms, your history, your other tests. The report alone does not tell the whole story.

And if you want to actually see what the report is describing — to look at the structures the radiologist is talking about and understand where they are in your body — that is what KAYMO is for. Upload your scan, and instead of reading about your anatomy in clinical language, you can see it in 3D and explore it for yourself.