Transform confusion into confidence. Understand every section of your CT scan report with our step-by-step guide.
Every CT scan report follows a standard structure. Click on each section to learn what it contains and why it matters.
Master every part of your CT scan report with detailed explanations and real examples
The first checkpoint for safety - verifies the report belongs to you and contains accurate personal information.
Medical errors can occur when reports get mixed up between patients. Always verify this information matches your records exactly.
Provides the medical context that guides the radiologist's focus during interpretation.
The clinical history tells the radiologist what to look for specifically. If you have chest pain, they'll pay extra attention to your heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
This section should match the reason your doctor gave you for getting the scan. If it doesn't match your symptoms, mention this discrepancy to your doctor.
Technical details about how your scan was performed, including contrast use and scan parameters.
This information helps doctors compare your scan with future ones and understand any limitations in what can be seen.
Compares your current scan to previous imaging to track changes over time.
A small finding that's been unchanged for years is usually less concerning than something new. This section helps determine if findings are stable, improving, or worsening.
Don't worry if this is your first scan. Radiologists are trained to recognize abnormalities even without comparison images.
Comprehensive description of everything the radiologist observed, going organ by organ through your body.
Don't get overwhelmed! This section contains the most detail but can cause unnecessary anxiety. Focus on the Impression section instead.
The radiologist's expert conclusion and bottom-line interpretation. This is your roadmap to understanding what matters most.
Suggested next steps based on your scan results. Your doctor will determine which recommendations to follow.
Not all reports include recommendations. Your doctor will always determine the appropriate next steps based on your complete clinical picture, not just the scan results.
Follow this proven step-by-step approach to understand the most important information first
This is your roadmap to the most important findings. It's like the executive summary that answers your key questions: "What did they find?" and "Should I be worried?"
See what the radiologist suggests as next steps. This helps you understand what happens next in your care and what your doctor might recommend.
Make sure the reason for your scan matches why your doctor ordered it. This provides important context for understanding the results.
Read the detailed findings only if you want more information. Don't let technical language overwhelm you - the Impression contains what really matters.
If the impression says "no acute findings" and there are no urgent recommendations, that's generally reassuring news. Don't get overwhelmed by technical details in the findings section.
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