Understanding your MRI report

Step 1 — How the report is organized#

Most reports start with clinical history, describe technique ("MRI of the brain without contrast"), then walk through each region ("Cerebral parenchyma… Ventricles…"). The final paragraphs condense everything into a short list. If numbers or measurements appear, they matter to your team. Ask what they imply for you personally.

Step 2 — Plain-English glossary (not exhaustive)#

Lesion

An area that looks different from the surrounding tissue on the images. It is a description, not a diagnosis by itself.

Edema

Swelling or extra fluid in tissue, often from injury or inflammation. How important it is depends on location, size, and your symptoms.

Signal (for example, "high T2 signal")

How bright or dark a spot looks on a particular type of image. Radiologists use it to compare one area to another on the same sequence.

Sequence: T1

One way the MRI machine builds an image. T1 is often used for clear anatomy and fat versus fluid in familiar patterns.

Sequence: T2

Highlights fluid and many abnormal processes as brighter than usual. The report may mention "T2 hyperintensity" in plain terms.

Sequence: FLAIR

A T2-like view that suppresses fluid in some spaces so subtle changes next to CSF are easier to see, especially in brain studies.

Sequence: DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging)

Shows how water moves in tissue. It is used in specific situations such as some strokes or abscesses; the report ties it to the clinical story.

Mass effect

Pressure or shift of nearby structures from a mass, fluid collection, or swelling. It is a mechanical description, not a label for cancer by itself.

Incidental finding

Something seen on the scan that was not the main reason for the exam. Its significance depends on the report and clinical context; the term alone does not establish a diagnosis.

Atrophy

Loss of volume or shrinkage of a structure compared with expected size, often age-related in some areas. The report usually says if it is mild, moderate, or not applicable.

Ischemia

Reduced blood flow to tissue. The report and clinician provide the context for what the term means in a particular case.

Artifact (imaging)

A false pattern on the image from motion, metal, or technique, rather than a physical abnormality in the body. It can mimic real findings if you are not trained to tell the difference.

Degenerative changes

Wear-and-tear type findings common with age, such as in discs or joints. The phrase describes appearance, not how much pain you should have.

Consistent with

Radiology hedging: the pictures look like a certain explanation, but the reader is not claiming proof without clinical context.

Correlate clinically

Imaging is being matched to your story, exam, and labs. The images alone are not the whole answer.

Unremarkable

Nothing stands out as notable in that part of the study for that question. It does not comment on every possible rare condition by name.

This is not exhaustive. Ask your doctor about any term you do not recognize.

Step 3 — Hedged language is normal#

Phrases like "cannot exclude" or "may represent" express uncertainty or describe possible explanations. Their meaning depends on the complete report and clinical context. They do not, on their own, establish a diagnosis or the next action.

Step 4 — Discussing report instructions#

A report or portal may include contact details and instructions from the clinical team. This glossary cannot determine urgency or interpret those instructions. The clinician responsible for the report can explain the findings and any next steps.

Step 5 — Questions worth writing down#

Questions for the clinician might include: which prior study was used for comparison, what an unfamiliar term means in this report, and how the Findings and Impression relate to each other. Keep the report and examination date with those questions.