Inflammatory changes: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Also written as: inflammation, inflammatory change, inflammatory process, inflamed

Inflammatory changes are signs on a scan that an area is inflamed, such as swelling, extra fluid, increased blood flow or hazy fat.

What it means

Inflammation is the body's response to injury, infection or irritation. On a scan it can show as swollen tissue, extra fluid, hazy streaks in nearby fat, or tissue that turns brighter after contrast because blood flow has increased. Inflammatory changes is a broad label for these signs. It tells you the area is irritated, but not always why.

When it matters

Inflammation has many causes, including infection, a blocked duct, a stone, an autoimmune condition, recent surgery or radiation treatment. Mild changes, such as in the sinuses, are very common and often clear on their own. Doctors put the scan together with your symptoms, examination and blood tests to find the cause. A repeat scan is sometimes done to confirm the changes have settled.

Questions to ask your doctor

What do you think is causing the inflammation?
Could it be an infection, and do I need blood tests?
Should the area be scanned again to check that it has settled?

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.