Recommendations for further imaging are often lost between the report and the next appointment, particularly for incidental findings in emergency or inpatient settings. A vague phrase such as 'clinical correlation suggested' gives the referrer nothing to act on.
A useful recommendation names the test, the interval and the reason, and appears in the impression rather than only in the body of the report.
- Name the modality, the interval and the question the next scan should answer.
- Put the recommendation in the impression, not only in the findings.
- Avoid hedges such as 'consider' or 'clinical correlation' unless you mean them.
- Use your department's incidental finding tracking system where one exists.
Why it matters
An incidental finding never followed up is a delayed diagnosis waiting to happen.
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