Comparison
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 →
In plain language
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.
Where you’ll see this
Near the top of the report, just after the technique.
Your report may word it “Comparison study”, “Prior studies” or “Priors”. These mean the same thing.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- Which part of this report is the conclusion I should focus on?
- Was the question my doctor asked actually answered by this scan?
- Is there an earlier report or addendum I should be reading alongside this one?
Parts of a report
Where this word comes up
See this word on your own scan
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Read Your Scan is informational only — not a medical diagnosis, and not a substitute for a licensed radiologist or your doctor. If you have urgent symptoms, seek care.