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. 2017 Nov 17;21(1):9-23.
doi: 10.1002/ajum.12075. eCollection 2018 Feb.

The clinical ultrasound report: Guideline for sonographers

Martin Necas  1
Affiliations

The clinical ultrasound report: Guideline for sonographers

Martin Necas. Australas J Ultrasound Med. .

Abstract

The reporting roles of sonographers in Australasia vary considerably. A large number of sonographers already routinely produce formal reports, while others are moving into clinical ultrasound roles where reporting is expected. This article summarises the best practice in reporting of ultrasound examinations based on international literature and addresses key topics including report structure, clinical content, style and language. Numerous examples and sample phrases are provided and common pitfalls are discussed.

Keywords: guideline; report; sonographer; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

No disclosures or conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example of an Itemised Reporting Template for a Normal Upper Abdominal Ultrasound Examination.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Probabilistic Terms.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The Main Body of a Simple Structured Obstetric Report Developed By Sonographers with Input from the Obstetric Team (Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Commonly Used Descriptive Ultrasound Terminology.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Stylistic and Wording Errors and Pitfalls.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Examples of Graphical Vascular Reports. Left Image: Provided By Author, Tristram Vascular Ultrasound, Hamilton, New Zealand. Right Image: Courtesy of Deb Coghlan, Precision Vascular Imaging, Brisbane, Australia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Australasian Society for Ultrasound and Medicine . Guidelines, Policies and Statements C2: Statement on the Practice of Ultrasound by Sonographers [Internet], 2014. Available from: http://www.asum.com.au/files/public/SoP/C2-Statement-on-%20the-Practice-...
    1. Gerhardsen KV, Hofmann B. The accuracy of sonographers carrying out upper abdominal ultrasound examinations. Dieurope 2014; 30(1): 12–5.
    1. Dongola NA, Guy RL, Giles JA, Ward S. Can sonographers offer an accurate upper abdominal ultrasound service in a district general hospital? Radiography 2003; 9(1): 29–33.
    1. Riley SJ, Groves CJ, Chandramohan M. Musculoskeletal ultrasound: audit of sonographer reporting. Ultrasound 2010; 18(1): 36–40.

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