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features Principles of Report Writing

A good radiographic report should contain the following subsections: 1) patient and general information; 2) identification of image; 3) clinical information and reason for radiographic examination; 4) radiographic observations; 5) radiographic impression and recommendations; 6) name and signature of the provider.

Principle of Radiographic Interpretation

Always begin your interpretation identifying the image and the date of examination. Describe if the image is diagnostically acceptable. If diagnostically unacceptable, suggest technical modification. Always describe number of teeth present, and the teeth that are restored.

To thoroughly describe a lesion, address the following 7 radiographic features.


Try following keywords or hints to describe a lesion. This list is not comprehensive.


Location

  • How many lesions?
  • Where is the lesion?
  • Localized vs generalized
  • Single arch or both the arches
  • Inside the bone or outside
  • Relation to the crown
  • Relation to the root
  • Superior or inferior to the IAC

    • Density

  • Radiolucent
  • Radiopaque
  • Mixed

    • Size

  • Provide size in mm or inches
  • Provide size in all orientation
  • On panoramic, provide approximate size

    • Shape

  • Circular
  • Oval
  • Scalloped
  • Multilocular

    • Border

  • Well defined or ill defined?
  • Sharp margins
  • Corticated margins
  • Sclerotic margins
  • Radiolucent band
  • Blends into adjacent area
  • Irregular margins

    • Content

  • Calcifications
  • Tooth or similar entities

    • Effects

  • Expansion of cortical plates
  • Resorption of bone or roots
  • Displacement of the following entities:
  • Teeth
  • Lamina dura
  • Crestal bone
  • Periodontal spaces
  • Alveolar bone
  • Nerve canals
  • Maxillary sinuses
  • Cortical bones

    • Mnemonics: BLESSED

  • Border
  • Location
  • Entity (or internal content)
  • Size
  • Shape
  • Effects on adjacent structures
  • Density