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Plain-English guide
Explain my CT scan, in plain English
CT reports are written for doctors, not for you. Here is how to read one, and how to get yours explained in everyday words.
What is a CT scan?
A CT scan (also called a “CAT scan”) takes hundreds of X-ray pictures from all around your body and puts them together into thin slices, like slices of bread. Doctors scroll through the slices to look at your organs, bones and blood vessels.
Why is my report so hard to read?
The report is written by a radiologist (a doctor who reads scans) for your other doctors. It uses short medical words, measurements in millimeters, and phrases like “unremarkable” (which simply means normal).
Words you may see
- Unremarkable: normal, nothing worrying.
- Nodule: a small, round spot. Most are not cancer.
- Lesion: any area that looks different from the tissue around it. It is not automatically bad.
- Mass: a larger spot, usually more than 3 cm (about 1 inch).
- Incidental: found by chance, not why the scan was ordered.
- Atelectasis: a small part of the lung that is not fully filled with air. Very common.
- Enhancement / contrast: how parts light up after the dye given in your vein.
- mm / cm: 10 mm = 1 cm. A pea is about 8 mm.
How MyScanGuide helps
Send us your CT images (the CD from the hospital or the files from your patient portal) and, if you have it, the written report. Several AI tools look at your scan organ by organ. You get a plain-English explanation of what was seen, what it might mean, and good questions to ask your doctor. A regular CT is $100. A high-detail CT (thin slices, lung screening or angiogram) is $150 and includes a 3D model you can turn around.
Get your scan explained
Plain-English explanation and questions for your doctor. CT scan: $100.
Questions
Can you tell me if my CT shows cancer?
No one should tell you that from software alone. We explain what the scan and report show in plain words, and help you ask your doctor the right questions. Only your doctor can diagnose you.
How fast can I get my CT explained?
Most results are ready within 3 business days after you pay. We e-mail you when they are ready.
Do I need the written report?
No, the images are enough. But if you have the report, send it too: it helps us explain the words your doctor will use.
For information only. Not medical advice. MyScanGuide is not a doctor and does not diagnose or treat. Always talk with your own doctor. In an emergency, call 911.