Read Your Scan

Impression

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

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.

Where you’ll see this

The final section of almost every radiology report, on every modality.

Your report may word it Conclusion, Opinion or Summary. 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

Upload your scan (de-identified in your browser) and your radiologist’s report, and every finding is mapped onto the images, explained in plain language and scored. Informational only — not a diagnosis.

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.