MRI Results Explained: What Your Radiology Report Means
An MRI report describes what a radiologist saw on your magnetic resonance images. It is written for your referring doctor, using clinical shorthand — which is exactly why it can read as alarming when you see it first in a patient portal.
What is an MRI?
MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves — not radiation — to create detailed pictures of soft tissue like the brain, spine, joints, and organs. The report is the radiologist’s written interpretation of those images.
Why this scan is usually ordered
- Back, neck, or joint pain that has not improved
- Headaches, dizziness, or neurological symptoms
- Follow-up on a previously noted finding
- Screening in people at higher risk
Common MRI findings, explained
The terms patients most often search after reading a MRI report. Each links to a full, plain-English guide.
A disc protrusion means one of the cushions between your vertebrae bulges out a little. It is extremely common and often causes no symptoms at all.
“Unremarkable” is good news. In radiology it means nothing abnormal or concerning stood out — essentially “normal.”
“Degenerative changes” usually means normal, age-related wear and tear — a bit like gray hair for your spine and joints.
These are small bright spots on a brain MRI. They are common with age and are frequently nonspecific rather than a sign of a specific disease.
Spinal stenosis means the channel for the spinal cord or nerves has narrowed. Mild narrowing is very common with age and often causes no symptoms.
An incidental finding is something spotted by chance — unrelated to the reason for your scan. Most are benign and many need no follow-up at all.
“Correlate clinically” means the radiologist is asking your doctor to match the imaging with your symptoms and exam. It is routine wording, not a red flag.
A hepatic hemangioma is a benign tangle of blood vessels in the liver. It is the most common non-cancerous liver growth and rarely causes any problems.
Fatty liver means extra fat has built up in the liver. It is very common, often reversible, and usually managed with lifestyle changes rather than medication.
A meniscus tear is a tear in one of the C-shaped cartilage cushions in the knee. Many tears — especially with age — cause few symptoms and never need surgery.
A renal cyst is a fluid-filled sac on or in the kidney. Simple kidney cysts are extremely common and almost always harmless.
An enlarged lymph node often just means your immune system has been active — from a recent infection or inflammation. Most enlarged nodes are not cancer.
Have an MRI report in front of you?
Paste it in and we’ll explain every finding in plain English, with questions to bring to your doctor.