Page 29 - 2022 Risk Basics - Radiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Radiology

The importance of making comparisons with old studies cannot be

overemphasized. However, some radiologists make comparisons but
neglect to mention them in their reports. Mentioning comparison studies

is critical. It is not sufficient to merely compare; comparisons must be
documented with relevant references to prior studies throughout the

report.

Use care when including negatives such as “cannot rule out cancer”.
While this is common language in a radiology report, it can be

misinterpreted by a hurried referring physician who might only read “rule
out cancer” .

☐ Accurate Terminology

Choose words and phrases that have clear meaning. Physicians,
especially radiologists, have a tendency to use “hedge” words and

non-specific terminology when they are communicating in writing. The
rationale for using these is the belief that hedge words and non-specific

terms give the radiologist wiggle room so that he or she is not locked into
a definite position in the event that his or her findings and conclusions

are later determined to be wrong. Unfortunately, these hedge words can
be equally used against the radiologist in a court of law on the basis that

they do not convey clear meaning, especially if there is finger-pointing
among the radiologist and the referring physician.
13

Similarly, for this reason, certain types of over-used words and phrases

should be avoided whenever possible. Examples include:

• Ambiguous hedge words — words and phrases that are either
superfluous to the overall message in the report or open to

interpretation by the reader. Examples of this type of terminology

13 https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/rg.352140046

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