How Do I Read a Chinese CT, MRI, or PET-CT Report?
A Chinese oncology imaging report describes what the radiologist saw, where, and how large it is — but it does not diagnose. The same finding can be described with different terms depending on the modality (CT, MRI, PET-CT), the anatomical site, and the radiologist's level of confidence. Understanding the structure and the most common terms helps you ask better questions of your treating team, not to interpret the images yourself.
Quick Answer
A Chinese oncology imaging report typically has three parts: examination description (检查所见, jiǎn chá suǒ jiàn) — what the radiologist saw, where, and its size; impression (诊断意见, zhěn duàn yì jiàn) — the radiologist's summary interpretation; and recommendations (建议, jiàn yì) — what to do next, if anything. The most frequently misread terms are the confidence modifiers (考虑, 倾向, 不除外, 可能) and the size/measurement abbreviations (mm, cm, and RECIST-style dimensions). An imaging report describes findings; it does not diagnose. The diagnosis comes from the full clinical picture, including pathology when available.
"The imaging report tells me whether the cancer has grown or shrunk." — Not exactly. The imaging report describes what the radiologist saw at the time of the scan. Whether that means the cancer is growing, shrinking, or stable depends on comparison with prior scans, the measurement method used, and the treating team's assessment. Reading a single report without that context can lead you to the wrong conclusion.
Who This Page Is NOT For
This page is not a tool to interpret your own imaging report, and it is not a substitute for the explanation given by the radiologist or your treating oncologist. It is for patients and families who have received a Chinese imaging report and want to understand its structure and terminology — so they can ask better questions of their treating team. Only the radiologist who issued the report and your treating oncologist can interpret the findings for your specific case.
The Three Parts of a Chinese Imaging Report
Most Chinese imaging reports follow a standard structure. Knowing the parts helps you find the information you need — and helps you notice what is missing.
1. 检查所见 — Findings
What the radiologist saw: the anatomical site, size, shape, density/signal, relationship to surrounding structures, and any additional findings.
- Location and size
- Density or signal characteristics
- Relationship to adjacent structures
- Additional incidental findings
2. 诊断意见 — Impression
The radiologist's summary interpretation of the findings. It often uses modifier terms to express confidence.
- Considered (考虑)
- Leaning toward (倾向)
- Cannot exclude (不除外)
- Possible (可能)
3. 建议 — Recommendations
What the radiologist recommends next — often a repeat scan, a different modality, or clinical correlation.
- Repeat imaging interval
- Additional modality (for example, MRI or PET)
- Clinical correlation
- Biopsy or other tissue sampling
Terms Most Often Misread
| Chinese term | Pinyin | Approximate English | Why it is easy to misread |
|---|---|---|---|
| 密度 / 信号 | mì dù / xìn hào | Density / signal | Used for CT (density) and MRI (signal). They describe the appearance of the tissue, not whether it is benign or malignant. |
| 强化 | qiáng huà | Enhancement | Describes how a lesion takes up contrast. Enhancement does not equal malignancy — some benign lesions enhance. |
| 边界 | biān jiè | Margin / border | Describes whether the border is clear or irregular. A clear border does not rule out malignancy, and an irregular border does not confirm it. |
| 增大 / 缩小 | zēng dà / suō xiǎo | Increased / decreased in size | Meaning depends on comparison with a prior scan and the measurement method used. A small change may not be clinically meaningful. |
| 考虑 | kǎo lǜ | Considered | A confidence modifier, not a diagnosis. The radiologist is leaning toward an interpretation but may recommend further workup. |
| 倾向 | qīng xiàng | Leaning toward | Lower confidence than "考虑". A directional leaning that still requires confirmation. |
| 不除外 | bù chú wài | Cannot exclude | Means the possibility is still open, not that it has been ruled out. Reading it as "excluded" reverses the meaning. |
| 可能 | kě néng | Possible | A possibility, not a confirmation. Often paired with a recommendation for further workup. |
| 随诊 / 复查 | suí zhěn / fù chá | Follow-up / repeat examination | Specifies an interval and a test. Missing the interval can delay necessary review. |
| 未见异常 | wèi jiàn yì cháng | No abnormality detected | Means no abnormality was seen in the examined area with the method used — not a guarantee that nothing is wrong. |
A Fictional Example: Reading an Imaging Impression
The example below is fictional. It is used only to show how modifier terms appear in an imaging impression. It is not derived from any real patient's records.
How to read this example: The findings section describes what the radiologist saw: a lesion in the right upper lobe, its size, its border, and its enhancement pattern. The impression section uses "考虑" and "可能" to express a directional interpretation — not a diagnosis. The recommendations section suggests a biopsy for pathological confirmation, or a repeat CT in 3 months if biopsy is deferred. The radiologist is telling you what was seen and what to do next, not what the diagnosis is. The diagnosis comes from the biopsy.
Questions to Bring to Your Doctor
These questions are educational. They are not an assessment of your case. Review the answers with your licensed oncologist and, where appropriate, the radiologist who issued the report.
How does this scan compare with my previous scan?
Ask about the trend over time, not just the single report. Comparison is essential to interpret "增大" or "缩小".
What does the modifier in the impression mean in my case?
Ask whether it is "考虑", "倾向", "不除外", or "可能", and what level of certainty the radiologist intended.
What is the next step recommended by the radiologist?
Repeat imaging, a different modality, or a biopsy — and what is the expected timeline?
If the report says "未见异常" in an area, does that mean there is nothing there?
Ask what the examination could and could not detect, given the modality and the area examined.
Is a second radiology opinion helpful in my case?
In some situations, review by a second radiologist at a specialist center can clarify the findings.
Continue Your Research
Related reference pages on Chinese medical documents and cancer diagnosis.
What Do 符合, 考虑为, 倾向, and 不除外 Mean?
How four modifier terms express different levels of diagnostic certainty in a Chinese pathology report.
How Do I Read a Chinese Oncology Laboratory Report?
Blood counts, tumor markers, and molecular results — each term covered from test name and units to plain-language meaning.
Newly Diagnosed — Start Here
How to read your pathology report and understand cancer staging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an imaging report diagnose cancer?
No. An imaging report describes what the radiologist saw — the location, size, shape, density or signal, and relationship to surrounding structures. The impression section is an interpretation, often using modifier terms to express confidence. The diagnosis usually requires pathology (tissue sampling), unless the clinical picture and imaging are unequivocal. Treating an imaging impression as a diagnosis can lead to premature conclusions.
Does "强化" (enhancement) mean the lesion is malignant?
No. Enhancement describes how a lesion takes up contrast — it is a description of vascularity, not a diagnosis. Some benign lesions enhance; some malignant lesions do not. The meaning of enhancement depends on the organ, the lesion type, and the pattern of enhancement. Only the radiologist and your treating team can interpret it in context.
What does "增大" (increased in size) mean for my treatment?
It depends on the size change, the measurement method, and the comparison with prior scans. A small change may fall within measurement variability and may not be clinically meaningful. A larger, confirmed change may prompt a discussion about treatment adjustment. Only your treating oncologist can interpret the change in the context of your clinical course.
What does "未见异常" (no abnormality detected) mean?
It means that, in the examined area and with the method used, no abnormality was seen. It does not guarantee that nothing is wrong — the sensitivity of the modality, the area examined, and the size of any potential lesion all matter. If you have symptoms or concerns that are not explained by the scan, discuss them with your treating team.
Why does the report recommend a repeat scan in 3 months?
Because some findings are indeterminate — they cannot be clearly classified as benign or malignant on the current scan. A repeat scan after an interval can show whether the finding is stable (suggesting a benign process) or changing (which may prompt further workup). The interval is chosen based on the expected growth rate of the suspected condition and the clinical context.
Where can I find the full list of Chinese medical document reference pages?
This page is part of a series of question-based reference pages on Chinese medical documents. Related pages cover pathology certainty terms, drug-name matching, high-risk mistranslation terms, discharge summaries, laboratory reports, CAR-T records, and molecular reports. You can find the full list on the Evidence Hub.
Sources & References
- 中华医学会放射学分会. 影像学报告书写规范. (Chinese Medical Association Radiology Branch. Standards for Writing Imaging Reports.)
- 国家卫生健康委员会. 医疗机构临床实验室管理办法. (National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Management Measures for Clinical Laboratories in Medical Institutions.) nhc.gov.cn ↗
- 中国抗癌协会肿瘤影像专业委员会. 肿瘤影像学诊断报告专家共识. (Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Tumor Imaging Committee. Expert Consensus on Tumor Imaging Diagnostic Reports.)
- Eisenhauer EA, et al. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). European Journal of Cancer. 2009. PubMed ↗
- 北京市海淀医院病理科. 病理报告="有字天书"？别急，一文教你看懂. 2024-08-28. Beijing Municipal Health Commission ↗