'Limited by streak artefact from dental amalgam' tells the referrer that you saw a problem. It does not tell them what to do. The report that changes management says which structure was not assessable and what would assess it.
Compare: 'Beam-hardening from dental restorations degrades the floor of mouth; the left sublingual space cannot be excluded as involved. Consider MRI, or repeat CT on the photon-counting scanner if available.' That version gives the clinic a next step and puts the decision where the information is.
The same applies to a non-diagnostic study for any reason — respiratory motion, poor bolus timing, an uncooperative patient. Say which question remains unanswered, and name the test that would answer it.
- Name the specific structure obscured, not just the artefact.
- State the clinical question that remains unanswered.
- Recommend the specific next test, including the scanner or sequence where it matters.
- Say when the repeat should happen if timing affects the answer.
- Keep the recommendation in the impression, where referrers read.
Why it matters
A limitation without a next step passes the problem back to the person least able to solve it.
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