Read Your Scan

Radiology report glossary

Read Your Scan Editorial Team·Last updated

Written from published radiology references and reviewed for plain language. Not written or signed by a physician, and not a diagnosis. How we write these pages →

Reports are written for other doctors, not for you. This is an A–Z of the words that turn up on MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound reports, each explained in plain language, with a link to the guide it comes from. Informational only — your doctor interprets your report.

A

AC joint arthritis
Age-related wear of the small joint at the top of the shoulder. It is very common and often causes little or no trouble on its own.Seen on Shoulder MRI
ACL or other ligament sprain/tear
A stretch or tear of one of the knee’s stabilizing ligaments. The report describes the extent so your doctor can discuss stability and options.Seen on Knee MRI
Acute
Referring to something new or recent. "No acute finding" means nothing urgent or new was seen.Seen on Brain CT
ADC map
A picture calculated from the diffusion sequence, used as its cross-check: genuinely restricted tissue is bright on diffusion and dark here. Radiologists read the two together because diffusion images alone can shine for uninteresting reasons.How the scan was taken
Addendum
Something added after the report was first signed — a correction, a second thought, or a comparison with older images that turned up later. The addendum is the current version: where it disagrees with the original text, it wins.Parts of a report
Atrophy
A description of the brain appearing slightly smaller or with a bit more space around it. Some volume change is a normal part of aging. It is one observation among many your doctor weighs.Seen on Brain MRI, Brain CT
Axial, sagittal, coronal
The three directions a scan is sliced in: axial cuts across the body like slices of a loaf, sagittal splits left from right, coronal separates front from back. A finding is often described in each, because some things only look like themselves from one angle.How the scan was taken

B

Baker’s cyst
A fluid-filled sac behind the knee. It is common, often harmless, and usually related to fluid in the joint.Seen on Knee MRI
Beam-hardening artifact
Dark streaks that fan out from something very dense on a CT — a hip replacement, dental work, a dense contrast pool. The streaks are a property of how X-rays pass through metal, and they obscure whatever they cross.Picture problems, not body problems
BI-RADS
The standard scoring scale for breast imaging, from 0 to 6, which turns a mammogram or breast ultrasound into an agreed next step. Low categories mean normal or almost certainly benign; the middle of the scale means a short-interval follow-up; the higher ones mean a biopsy is recommended.Standard scoring systems
Biceps tendon changes
Irritation or wear of the biceps tendon where it attaches near the shoulder. Your doctor relates it to your symptoms.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Bile ducts
The small tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder toward the intestine.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Biliary duct dilation
A bile duct appearing wider than usual. It is described so your doctor can decide whether anything further is helpful.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Bone marrow edema (bone bruise)
A bright area within the bone that often reflects a bruise or stress response. Many resolve over time. Your doctor interprets it with your history.Seen on Knee MRI
Bosniak classification
The scale used to sort kidney cysts by how simple or complicated they look on CT or MRI. The lowest categories are ordinary cysts needing nothing at all; higher ones have features — thick walls, internal divisions, enhancement — that earn follow-up or surgical review.Standard scoring systems
Bursa
A small fluid-filled cushion that reduces friction between tissues; when irritated it is called bursitis.Seen on Shoulder MRI

C

Calcifications
Small deposits of calcium that are commonly seen in certain areas of the brain and are usually a normal, incidental finding.Seen on Brain CT
Calculus
The medical word for a stone, such as a kidney stone or gallstone.Seen on Abdominal CT
Cannot be excluded
The scan cannot completely rule something out — it is not a statement that the thing is there. Radiologists write it because imaging has limits, and naming what those limits leave open is part of an honest report.Careful and hedged wording
Cardiomegaly
The heart appearing larger than usual on the image. This can have many explanations, and the X-ray view can sometimes exaggerate size. Your doctor may look further if needed.Seen on Chest X-ray
Cardiothoracic ratio
A comparison of the heart’s width to the chest’s width, used to gauge whether the heart looks enlarged.Seen on Chest X-ray
Cartilage
The smooth, slippery surface covering the ends of bones so they glide easily in the joint.Seen on Knee MRI
Cartilage thinning (chondromalacia)
Softening or thinning of the smooth cartilage on the joint surfaces. It is common with age and activity and is graded by degree.Seen on Knee MRI
Cervical
Referring to the neck region of the spine, with vertebrae labeled C1 through C7.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Cervical spondylosis
A general term for age-related wear of the neck’s discs and joints. It is very common and often described simply as part of the picture.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Clinical history
The reason the scan was ordered, in a line or two — the symptom, the suspected problem, or the follow-up being done. It tells the radiologist what question to answer, and it tells you what this scan was actually looking for.Parts of a report
Comparison
Which earlier scans the radiologist had in front of them while reading this one. "No comparison available" or "none" means this is the first look, so nothing could be measured against a previous state — which is why a first scan often reads more cautiously than a follow-up.Parts of a report
Consistent with
The picture matches the diagnosis being named — the radiologist is confident. It is the strongest ordinary phrasing in a report, one step short of stating the diagnosis outright.Careful and hedged wording
Consolidation
An area of lung that looks denser than usual, often where air spaces have filled with fluid — as can happen with a chest infection. Your doctor considers it with your symptoms.Seen on Chest X-ray
Contrast
A dye given through a vein that makes blood vessels and some tissues show up more clearly on the images. Not every chest CT uses it.Seen on Chest CT, Abdominal CT, Brain CT
Contrast (gadolinium)
A dye sometimes given through a vein to make certain areas stand out. Not every brain MRI uses it.Seen on Brain MRI
Coronary artery calcification
Calcium seen in the walls of the heart’s arteries, sometimes noted incidentally. It is a marker your doctor may discuss with you in the context of heart-health risk.Seen on Chest CT
Coronary calcium score
A number summarising how much calcium has built up in the heart's own arteries on a dedicated CT. Zero means none was detected; higher numbers indicate more hardened plaque, and the score is used alongside your other risk factors rather than on its own.Standard scoring systems
Costophrenic angle
The corner where the diaphragm meets the ribs. Blunting of this angle can suggest fluid.Seen on Chest X-ray
Cyst
A fluid-filled pocket. On ultrasound, simple cysts have a typical, reassuring appearance.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound

D

Diffuse
Spread throughout, without a single edge to point at. It says a change involves a whole organ or region rather than sitting in one place — which often points to a process affecting the whole body rather than a lump.How a finding is described
Diffusion-weighted imaging
An MRI sequence that measures how freely water molecules drift through tissue. Where that drift is blocked, the sequence lights up — which is why it is the fastest way to see a stroke and a standard part of many cancer protocols.How the scan was taken
Disc
The soft cushion between two vertebrae that absorbs shock and allows movement.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Disc bulge
A disc that extends a little beyond its normal edge. Bulges are very common and often cause no symptoms. Your doctor considers whether it lines up with what you feel.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Disc bulge or herniation
Disc material extending beyond its normal edge. These are common in the neck and often cause no symptoms. Your doctor checks whether the location fits your arm or neck symptoms.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Disc desiccation
A disc that has lost some of its water content and appears drier on the images. This is a normal part of aging and is seen in most adults.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Disc herniation
A more focal push of disc material beyond its normal border. Many herniations improve on their own over time. The report notes its location so your doctor can relate it to your symptoms.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Diverticulosis
Small pouches in the wall of the colon, very common with age and often causing no symptoms. It is noted for completeness.Seen on Abdominal CT
Doppler
An ultrasound mode that shows blood flow, sometimes used to check vessels or organs.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound

E

Echogenicity
How bright or dark a tissue appears on ultrasound as it reflects sound waves. Doctors compare it to normal tissue.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Edema
Fluid or swelling within tissue that shows up as a brighter area on certain MRI images.Seen on Knee MRI
Effusion
Extra fluid inside a joint, often described when there is swelling or irritation.Seen on Knee MRI
Emphysema
Areas where the tiny air sacs of the lung are enlarged or damaged, often linked to smoking. Reports may describe it as mild, moderate, or severe. It describes lung structure and is interpreted alongside your breathing and history.Seen on Chest CT
Enhancement
A structure brightened after contrast dye was injected, which means blood is reaching it. Plenty of normal tissue enhances; the pattern and shape of the enhancement is what the radiologist reads, not the fact of it.How a finding is described
Enlarged lymph node
A lymph node that looks bigger than usual. Nodes commonly enlarge in response to infection or inflammation and often return to normal. Size is one clue your doctor weighs among many.Seen on Chest CT
Enlarged or prominent lymph node
A lymph node that looks bigger than usual, which commonly happens with inflammation or infection. Size is one clue your doctor weighs among many.Seen on Abdominal CT
Equivocal
Genuinely undecided. The finding looks like it could go either way and the scan cannot break the tie, so something else — a follow-up, a different scan, a specialist — has to.Careful and hedged wording

F

Facet joints
The small joints at the back of the spine that guide movement. Age-related wear here is very common.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Findings
The long middle section, where the radiologist walks through each structure in turn and describes what it looks like. Much of it is a record of the normal things that were checked, which is why it reads as more alarming than it is.Parts of a report
FLAIR
A common MRI image setting that makes some changes in brain tissue easier to see. You may see it named in the report.Seen on Brain MRI
Fleischner criteria
The published guidance radiologists follow for how to handle a lung nodule found by accident: whether to ignore it, when to re-scan, and for how long. The recommendation depends on the nodule's size and type and on whether you smoke, which is why two people with similar nodules can get different advice.Standard scoring systems
Focal
In one spot, with a boundary. It is the opposite of diffuse, and it usually makes a finding easier to characterise, follow and treat than one that is spread out.How a finding is described
Foramen
The small opening on each side of the spine where a nerve exits. Narrowing here is called foraminal stenosis.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI, Cervical Spine MRI
Foraminal narrowing
Narrowing of the small openings where nerves leave the spine. It can be mild to severe, and your doctor relates it to any arm symptoms.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Full-thickness tear
A tear that goes all the way through a tendon, as opposed to a partial tear. It describes extent, not necessarily the treatment.Seen on Shoulder MRI

G

Gallbladder wall thickening
The gallbladder wall appearing thicker than usual, which can occur for several reasons. Your doctor considers it together with your symptoms.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Gallstones
Stones within the gallbladder. Many people have them without symptoms. Your doctor considers whether they relate to how you feel.Seen on Abdominal CT, Abdominal Ultrasound
Grossly normal
Normal as far as this scan can tell. "Grossly" means at the scale the images resolve — it does not mean severely or badly. Something small or subtle could still be beyond what the pictures show.Careful and hedged wording
Ground-glass opacity
A hazy area where the lung looks slightly cloudy rather than solid. It can appear with infections, inflammation, or fluid, and often clears up. It is a description of how the tissue looks, not a diagnosis on its own.Seen on Chest CT

H

Hemangioma
A common, benign cluster of blood vessels in the liver. These are usually harmless and often just noted for completeness.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Hemorrhage
Bleeding. A head CT is particularly good at showing whether there is bleeding in or around the brain.Seen on Brain CT
Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver)
Extra fat in the liver, seen as the liver appearing different in density. It is common and often improves with lifestyle changes. Your doctor interprets its significance.Seen on Abdominal CT, Abdominal Ultrasound
Heterogeneous
Uneven in appearance — the brightness or density varies from place to place inside the same structure. Some tissues are normally heterogeneous, so on its own the word describes a texture, not a problem.How a finding is described
Hilum
The central area of each lung where the airways and blood vessels enter. Its appearance is often described.Seen on Chest X-ray
Homogeneous
Uniform throughout — the same brightness or density everywhere inside a structure. For many organs and many simple findings this is the reassuring version.How a finding is described
Hounsfield units
CT's density scale, where water is zero, air is far below it and bone is far above. It lets a radiologist say what something is made of — a number in the range of fat, fluid or blood is often enough to identify a finding without any further test.How the scan was taken
Hyperechoic / hypoechoic
Words for tissue that appears brighter (hyperechoic) or darker (hypoechoic) than usual on the scan.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Hyperinflation
Lungs that appear larger or more air-filled than usual, sometimes seen with long-standing breathing conditions. It is one descriptive finding among others.Seen on Chest X-ray
Hyperintensity
An area that appears brighter than the surrounding tissue on a particular MRI image. It describes appearance, not a specific diagnosis.Seen on Brain MRI
Hypodensity / hyperdensity
Words describing an area that looks darker (less dense) or brighter (more dense) than surrounding tissue on the scan.Seen on Abdominal CT

I

Ill-defined
Without a clear edge — the finding blurs into whatever is next to it. It is a reason for a radiologist to look more carefully, though inflammation and swelling produce fuzzy borders too.How a finding is described
Impression
The conclusion — the radiologist's summary of what matters, usually a few numbered lines at the end. If you read one part of a report, read this one: the findings section describes everything seen, the impression says what it adds up to.Parts of a report
Incidental cyst
A fluid-filled pocket found by chance. Most brain cysts are harmless and stable. Your doctor decides whether it needs any monitoring.Seen on Brain MRI
Incidental finding
Something noticed by chance that was not the reason for the scan. Many are harmless, and your doctor decides if any need attention.Seen on Chest CT, Abdominal CT
Interval change
"Interval" means since the last scan — so "no interval change" is one of the better sentences in radiology: whatever is there has not moved, grown or spread in the time between the two studies.Comparison with an earlier scan
Ischemia / small vessel changes
Signs relating to blood flow in small vessels. These are frequently seen and are usually described so your doctor can consider your overall vascular health.Seen on Brain MRI

J

Joint effusion
Extra fluid within the knee joint, often a sign of irritation or a recent injury. It frequently settles as things calm down.Seen on Knee MRI

K

Kidney stone (calculus)
A small hard deposit in the kidney or urinary tract. The report notes size and location, which helps your doctor discuss whether it needs treatment.Seen on Abdominal CT

L

Labral tear
A tear of the cartilage rim around the shoulder socket. It can relate to instability or injury. Your doctor considers whether it fits your symptoms.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Labrum
A rim of cartilage around the shoulder socket that helps hold the joint stable.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Lesion
A general word for any area that looks different from normal tissue. It does not, on its own, say whether something is serious.Seen on Brain MRI
LI-RADS
The scoring system for liver imaging in people already at higher risk of liver cancer, running from definitely benign to definitely malignant. It exists so that CT and MRI reports from different hospitals mean the same thing to the team following you.Standard scoring systems
Ligament
A band of tissue that connects bone to bone and helps keep the knee stable — for example the ACL.Seen on Knee MRI
Likely represents
The most probable explanation, offered with the door left open. The radiologist is telling you which way the evidence points without claiming certainty.Careful and hedged wording
Limited study
The scan did not give the radiologist everything they wanted — because of movement, body habitus, a shortened protocol, or an uncooperative moment. The report still stands, but its confidence is lower and it will usually say which part was affected.Parts of a report
Lung-RADS
The scoring scale used for CT lung cancer screening, which converts what a nodule looks like into how soon the next scan should be. Most people screened land in the lowest categories and simply continue annual screening.Standard scoring systems

M

Mass effect
Something is taking up room and pushing its neighbours out of the way. The phrase describes the pressure, not the cause — a bleed, a swelling or a tumour can all produce it.How a finding is described
Mass or lesion
A general term for an area that looks different from the surrounding tissue. Many are benign or harmless. The report describes it so your doctor can decide whether anything further is helpful.Seen on Brain MRI
Mediastinum
The central area of the chest between the two lungs, containing the heart, major blood vessels, windpipe, and lymph nodes.Seen on Chest CT
Meniscus
One of two crescent-shaped cushions of cartilage that pad and stabilize the knee joint.Seen on Knee MRI
Meniscus tear
A tear in one of the C-shaped cushions in the knee. Tears range widely, and some — especially age-related ones — cause few or no symptoms. Your doctor considers whether it explains what you feel.Seen on Knee MRI
Midline shift
The structures that normally sit in the middle of the brain have been pushed to one side. Radiologists measure it in millimetres because the amount matters, and it is reported promptly when present.How a finding is described
Mild, moderate, severe
A radiologist's three-step scale for how much of something there is. The grading is a visual judgement rather than a measurement, so two radiologists can reasonably differ by a step — and severity on a picture does not always match severity in symptoms.How a finding is described
Modic changes
A three-type description of changes in the bone directly above and below a spinal disc, seen on MRI. The types describe what the marrow has been replaced by — inflammation, fat, or dense bone — and are a common finding in backs that have been worn for years.Standard scoring systems
Motion artifact
Blurring or ghosting caused by movement during the scan — breathing, swallowing, a heartbeat, or simply not being able to hold still. It is a fault in the picture, not a finding in you, though a bad enough one can hide something real.Picture problems, not body problems

N

Nerve root compression
A nerve appearing pressed or crowded where it exits the spine. This is described so your doctor can see whether it matches symptoms like leg pain or tingling.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
No acute abnormality
A common and reassuring result meaning no urgent problem such as bleeding was seen. It is one of the most frequent findings on a head CT.Seen on Brain CT
No acute intracranial abnormality
Nothing inside the skull needs emergency treatment right now: no fresh bleed, no new stroke damage visible, no dangerous swelling. It is a statement about today, not a clean bill of health — long-standing changes can still be described further down the report.Careful and hedged wording
No evidence of
This scan did not show the thing that was being looked for. It is a statement about what the images show, not a guarantee of absence — small or early disease can be invisible to any single scan.Careful and hedged wording
Nodule or opacity
A spot or area that stands out and may simply need a clearer look with another test. Many turn out to be harmless. Your doctor decides on any follow-up.Seen on Chest X-ray
Nonspecific
Something is visible, but its appearance fits several different causes, so the picture on its own cannot say which. Common causes of a nonspecific finding are often harmless ones.Careful and hedged wording

O

Old / chronic changes
Signs of a healed prior event, described as old or chronic. They reflect the past rather than something new. Your doctor explains their meaning.Seen on Brain CT
Opacity
A general word for any area that appears denser or cloudier than normal lung on the scan. It describes appearance, not cause.Seen on Chest CT, Chest X-ray
Osteophyte
A bone spur — a small extra bit of bone that grows with age-related wear.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Osteophytes (bone spurs)
Small bony growths that form with wear over time. They are common and often cause no trouble on their own.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI

P

Partial volume averaging
When one slice contains two different tissues, the scanner reports their average, which can invent an appearance belonging to neither. It is why a thin slice through the edge of a structure sometimes suggests something that thinner slices show is not there.Picture problems, not body problems
Pfirrmann grade
A 1-to-5 grading of how worn a spinal disc looks on MRI, based on how bright and how tall it is. It grades the picture of the disc, and a high grade is common with age — it does not by itself measure pain.Standard scoring systems
PI-RADS
A 1-to-5 scale used on prostate MRI to say how likely an area is to be clinically significant cancer. The score describes the appearance of an area on the images and is one input into the biopsy decision, not the decision itself.Standard scoring systems
Pleura
The thin lining around the lungs and inside the chest wall. Fluid or thickening here is described as pleural.Seen on Chest CT
Pleural effusion
A collection of fluid in the space around the lung. It can happen for many reasons, from infection to heart or other conditions. Your doctor will consider why the fluid is there.Seen on Chest CT, Chest X-ray
Pneumothorax
Air in the space around the lung. When noted, it is described by size. Your doctor decides whether it needs any action.Seen on Chest X-ray
Progression
Something has grown, spread or increased since the last scan. It is a description of movement over time, and how much it matters depends entirely on what the thing is — your doctor puts that number in context.Comparison with an earlier scan
Pulmonary nodule
A small round spot in the lung. Nodules are very common and most are harmless — scar tissue or a past infection. Reports often note the size; small ones are frequently just watched over time. Your doctor will decide whether it needs any follow-up.Seen on Chest CT

R

Radiculopathy
A word describing symptoms — such as arm pain or tingling — that can occur when a nerve root is irritated.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Renal cyst
A fluid-filled pocket on the kidney. Simple kidney cysts are extremely common and usually harmless. Your doctor decides whether any check is needed.Seen on Abdominal CT
Resolved
Something that was visible on an earlier scan can no longer be seen. Radiologists use it for things that were expected to go away — an infection, a collection of fluid, a bruise.Comparison with an earlier scan
Restricted diffusion
Water in an area is moving less freely than it should, making it bright on the diffusion sequence and dark on the ADC map. In the brain this is the signature of a recent stroke; elsewhere it flags dense, tightly packed tissue such as pus or some tumours.How the scan was taken
Retroperitoneum
The area at the back of the abdomen containing the kidneys, major vessels, and some lymph nodes.Seen on Abdominal CT
Rotator cuff
A group of four muscles and their tendons that stabilize the shoulder and help it move.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Rotator cuff tear (partial or full-thickness)
A tear in one of the rotator cuff tendons. The report describes whether it is partial or complete, which helps your doctor discuss options. Many are managed conservatively.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Wear or irritation of the rotator cuff tendons without a full tear. It is common, especially with age and repetitive use, and is often managed without surgery.Seen on Shoulder MRI

S

Sequelae
The leftovers of something that already happened and finished — a scar, a healed fracture line, an old area of damage. Sequelae are a record of the past, not an active problem.Comparison with an earlier scan
Signal abnormality
An area of an MRI that is brighter or darker than the tissue around it should be. "Signal" is MRI's word for brightness — an abnormal signal says something differs there, without yet saying what.How a finding is described
Simple renal cyst
A fluid-filled pocket on the kidney. Simple cysts are very common and usually harmless. Your doctor decides whether any check is needed.Seen on Abdominal Ultrasound
Sinus changes
Fluid or thickening in the sinuses, often noticed by chance. These are common and frequently unrelated to the reason for the scan.Seen on Brain CT
Sinus or mastoid changes
Fluid or thickening in the sinuses or the air spaces near the ear, often noticed incidentally. These are common and frequently unrelated to the reason for the scan.Seen on Brain MRI
Small vessel / white matter changes
Changes related to small blood vessels, commonly seen with age. Your doctor considers them alongside your overall vascular health.Seen on Brain CT
Spinal cord
The bundle of nerves running through the spine that carries signals between the brain and body.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Spinal cord signal change (myelomalacia)
An area where the spinal cord looks slightly different on the images. It is described carefully so your doctor can consider its meaning alongside your exam.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Spinal stenosis
A narrowing of the space around the spinal canal or nerves. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. Your doctor interprets the narrowing alongside your symptoms.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Spondylolisthesis
One vertebra sitting slightly forward or backward relative to the one below. It is often mild and stable. The report grades it so your doctor can gauge its significance.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
Stable
Unchanged since the last scan. In a follow-up report this is usually the outcome everyone was hoping for — stability is how imaging says something is not behaving dangerously.Comparison with an earlier scan
Status post
After. It marks a surgery or procedure you have already had, so the appearance that follows is expected rather than a new problem — "status post cholecystectomy" simply means your gallbladder was removed.Comparison with an earlier scan
STIR
An MRI sequence that switches the brightness of fat off so that fluid stands out unmistakably. It is how a radiologist tells swelling inside a bone from the normal fatty marrow around it.How the scan was taken
Straightening of the normal curve
The usual gentle neck curve appearing flatter, sometimes linked to muscle tightness. It is a frequent, often minor observation.Seen on Cervical Spine MRI
Subacromial bursitis
Irritation of the small fluid-filled cushion above the rotator cuff. It is a common source of shoulder pain and often calms with treatment.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Susceptibility artifact
A dark, distorted patch on an MRI caused by metal or by a boundary between air and tissue — a dental filling, a surgical clip, a joint replacement. The area it covers cannot be assessed, which is why the report names it.Picture problems, not body problems
Suspicious for
The appearance leans towards a particular diagnosis and needs to be settled, usually by a biopsy or a different test. It is stronger than "cannot be excluded" and weaker than a diagnosis: radiologists reserve it for findings that should not be left alone.Careful and hedged wording

T

T1-weighted
An MRI setting that produces anatomy-first pictures: fat is bright, water and most fluid are dark. It is the sequence radiologists use to see structure clearly, and the one usually repeated after contrast.How the scan was taken
T2-weighted
An MRI setting in which water and fluid glow bright. Because injury, inflammation and swelling all mean extra water, T2 is the sequence where problems tend to announce themselves.How the scan was taken
Technique
How the scan was performed: which sequences or slices were taken, in which planes, and whether contrast was given. It matters because a finding can only be reported if the technique used could show it.Parts of a report
Tendinopathy
A general term for wear or irritation of a tendon, short of a tear.Seen on Shoulder MRI
Thecal sac
The fluid-filled sheath that surrounds the spinal nerves in the canal. Reports often describe whether it is indented.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI
TI-RADS
A points-based scale for thyroid nodules seen on ultrasound. Features such as shape, margin and internal specks each add points, and the total — together with the nodule's size — decides whether a needle biopsy is recommended or whether it is simply watched.Standard scoring systems

U

Unchanged
Identical to the previous scan, as far as the images can tell. It carries no judgement about whether the finding is good or bad — only that it is doing nothing new.Comparison with an earlier scan
Unremarkable
Normal. It is the word radiologists use instead of "normal" for a structure they looked at carefully and found nothing worth writing about. It is good news, said flatly.Careful and hedged wording

V

Ventricles
The normal fluid-filled spaces inside the brain. Their size is often noted as part of a routine description.Seen on Brain MRI, Brain CT
Vertebra
One of the stacked bones that make up the spine. In the low back these are labeled L1 through L5.Seen on Lumbar Spine MRI

W

Well-circumscribed
Having a clean, clearly drawn edge. A sharp border tends to be a reassuring feature: things that grow into surrounding tissue usually do not keep tidy outlines.How a finding is described
White matter hyperintensities
Small bright spots in the brain’s wiring seen on certain images. They are very common, especially with age, and are often related to normal aging or blood-vessel health. Your doctor considers them alongside your symptoms and history.Seen on Brain MRI
With and without contrast
The same area was scanned twice, once before dye was injected and once after, so the two sets can be compared. The comparison is the point: what changes between them tells the radiologist how blood is reaching a structure.How the scan was taken
Within normal limits
Normal, with the acknowledgement that "normal" is a range rather than a single value. A measurement or an appearance sits inside what is expected for someone of your age and build.Careful and hedged wording

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