Incidental finding: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Incidental finding

Also written as: incidentaloma, incidentally noted, incidental note

An incidental finding is something spotted by chance on a scan done for another reason. Most are harmless, and some need a later check.

Seen on: Any scan

How it reads in a report

Incidental finding of a 1.4 cm left adrenal nodule measuring 5 HU, consistent with a benign adenoma.

What it means

A scan shows more than the one thing it was ordered for. An incidental finding is anything the radiologist notices that is unrelated to why you had the scan. Common examples are small kidney or liver cysts, a tiny lung nodule or a small lump on an adrenal gland. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys. A lump found this way is sometimes called an incidentaloma.

When it matters

Most incidental findings are harmless and need nothing further. For common ones, radiologists follow published guidelines. These say when a repeat scan or another test is worthwhile, based on size, appearance and your risk factors. A suggested follow-up is usually a precaution. Occasionally one proves important, and finding it early helps. That is why it is reported even when it has nothing to do with your symptoms.

Questions to ask your doctor

Does this finding need any follow-up, and if so, when?
Could this finding have anything to do with my symptoms?
Do I have older scans that show whether it was already there?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.