Ultrasound Results Explained: What Your Radiology Report Means
Ultrasound reports describe organs and structures seen with sound waves. Findings like “cyst” or “nodule” are common and frequently benign — the report usually notes what, if anything, to do next.
What is an Ultrasound?
Ultrasound uses sound waves — no radiation — to image soft tissue and blood flow in real time. It is commonly used for the abdomen, pelvis, thyroid, and during pregnancy.
Why this scan is usually ordered
- Evaluating the abdomen, thyroid, or pelvis
- Checking a lump or swelling
- Assessing blood flow
- Pregnancy and gynecologic care
Common Ultrasound findings, explained
The terms patients most often search after reading a Ultrasound report. Each links to a full, plain-English guide.
“Unremarkable” is good news. In radiology it means nothing abnormal or concerning stood out — essentially “normal.”
A hypodense lesion is an area that looks darker than the surrounding tissue on a CT scan. In organs like the liver, most are benign — cysts or hemangiomas.
A pleural effusion is extra fluid in the thin space around a lung. Small effusions are common and have many causes, most of them treatable.
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 thyroid nodule is a lump in the thyroid gland. They are very common and the large majority are benign, not cancer.
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 Ultrasound report in front of you?
Paste it in and we’ll explain every finding in plain English, with questions to bring to your doctor.