A recommendation for further imaging only helps if the requesting clinician understands it and someone makes sure it happens. Vague wording — 'correlate clinically', 'consider follow-up' — is easily lost.
State the modality, the interval and the reason in one sentence: 'MRI liver with hepatobiliary contrast in 3 to 6 months to characterise a 12 mm segment 6 lesion'. Put it in the impression, not the body of the report, and flag it through whatever tracking system exists so it is not reliant on memory.
- Name the modality, the interval and the question
- Put the recommendation in the impression
- Use a structured follow-up flag where the reporting system has one
- Communicate directly when the finding is significant and time-sensitive
- Avoid hedged phrases that do not tell anyone what to do
Why it matters
The report is where most follow-up failures could be prevented.
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