Consensus statement on thoracic radiology terminology in Portuguese used in Brazil and in Portugal

Abstract

Effective communication among members of medical teams is an important factor for early and appropriate diagnosis. The terminology used in radiology reports appears in this context as an important link between radiologists and other members of the medical team. Therefore, heterogeneity in the use of terms in reports is an important but little discussed issue. This article is the result of an extensive review of nomenclature in thoracic radiology, including for the first time terms used in X-rays, CT, and MRI, conducted by radiologists from Brazil and Portugal. The objective of this review of medical terminology was to create a standardized language for medical professionals and multidisciplinary teams.

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“…Its purpose is to be used as an educational review for residents, whether they are beginning their training or preparing for certification exams, and serve as a refresher and a reference to the practicing radiologist. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Radiological signs are characteristic and recognizable patterns in radiology and diagnostic imaging methods, whether in plain radiograph (XR), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They are based on common objects or patterns that we find in our routines and its recognition facilitates diagnostic reasoning.…”

“…In chest radiology, the written radiology report is the most important and often the only communication tool between the radiologist and the referring physician. 1,2 An important definition was reached by this consensus, defining the term "mosaic pattern of lung attenuation". The term "mosaic pattern of lung attenuation" is nonspecific and refers to a pattern that occurs in a variety of lung dis-eases.…”

“…The terms "mosaic perfusion" and "mosaic oligemia" should be reserved for known cases of primary vascular lung disease. 2 Some terms still cause controversy, as described in a letter to the editor sent by Palmucci S. 3 Kitami et al pointed out that the terms galaxy sign and cluster sign could be considered misnomers. Continiung the send letter: The galaxy sign -to the best of my knowledge -was first reported in literature in 2002, when Nakatsu et al 4 described "large nodules […] surrounded by many tiny satellite nodules.…”

Something not so new for lymphangioleiomyomatosis: is VEGF-D a glass half empty or half full?

“…An isolated lung cyst on an HRCT scan of the chest is usually just an incidental finding with no relevant clinical significance 1 ; however, one only needs to find a few more cysts for it to become a real diagnostic puzzle. HRCT, alongside a thorough clinical assessment, is actually an essential first-step tool for trying to narrow down the broad range of differential diagnoses, but in several patients with diffuse cystic lung disease (DCLD) a definitive diagnosis still cannot be achieved without further investigation.…”

PET/CT and interstitial lung disease

“…(3) As OVF são um achado desafiador na TCAR, pois podem representar preenchimento parcial de espaços aéreos, espessamento intersticial (devido a fluidos, células e/ou fibrose), colapso parcial de alvéolos, aumento do volume sanguíneo capilar ou uma combinação desses. (4) No contexto das DPI, um dos principais questionamentos em relação às imagens é se as OVF representam alterações inflamatórias (e potencialmente reversíveis) ou fibrose intersticial precoce; isso pode ser uma informação valiosa para o manejo desses pacientes. Um resultado interessante no estudo de Bastos et al (3) foi a correlação entre OVF na TCAR e níveis séricos de CCL2, um mediador inflamatório conhecido por estimular a inflamação e a produção de colágeno, o que resulta em proliferação de fibroblastos e fibrose.…”