Multicenter survey clarifying phrases in emergency radiology reports

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Medical Communication

Background:

• Increasing imaging volumes and remote radiology services can strain radiologist-emergency physician interactions.
• Ambiguity in radiology reports can hinder effective clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how radiologists and emergency physicians perceive commonly used probabilistic phrases in radiology reports.
• To identify phrasings that may decrease ambiguity and improve interdisciplinary communication.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was administered to radiologists and emergency physicians across academic departments and national interest groups.
• Participants rated probabilistic phrases (e.g., "suspicious of") and discussed report usefulness and specific terminology.
• Statistical analysis, including independent Student's T-test, compared median scores and confidence intervals.

Main Results:

• General agreement on phrase interpretation existed, with exceptions for "compatible with" and "subcentimeter liver lesions too small to characterize."
• Radiologists and emergency physicians differed on the utility of "clinical correlation recommended."
• Both groups agreed on key elements of a useful report, though with slight variations in emphasis.

Conclusions:

• A wide range of interpretations for probabilistic phrases was observed among both radiologists and emergency physicians.
• Despite statistical differences, the practical impact of these variations may be minor.
• Ambiguous probabilistic phrases in radiology reports should be avoided or clearly defined to prevent misinterpretation.