Report Styles Guide
Understanding structured and free-text report formats
Two Report Styles
The system supports two report styles. Your preference is saved in your profile and applied every time the AI generates a report for you.
Structured
Organized into labeled sections with headings. This is the default style.
PROCEDURE:
CT chest with IV contrast.
TECHNIQUE:
Axial images obtained from lung
apices through the adrenal glands.
FINDINGS:
Heart: Mild cardiomegaly.
Lungs: Clear bilaterally.
Pleura: Small bilateral effusions.
IMPRESSION:
1. Mild cardiomegaly.
2. Small bilateral pleural effusions.
Free-Text
Narrative prose without explicit section headings. Reads like a written letter.
CT of the chest was performed with
IV contrast. Axial images were
obtained from the lung apices
through the adrenal glands.
There is mild cardiomegaly. The
lungs are clear bilaterally. Small
bilateral pleural effusions are
noted.
In summary, findings are consistent
with mild cardiomegaly and small
bilateral pleural effusions.
Which should I choose? Most radiologists prefer structured reports for clarity and consistency. Free-text is available for those who prefer a narrative format.
Setting Your Preference
Your report style preference is saved in your user profile and applied automatically when AI generates reports.
- Click your username in the top navigation bar
- Select Profile from the dropdown
- Find the Report Style setting
- Choose Structured or Free-Text
- Click Save — the change takes effect immediately
Default is Structured. If you've never changed this setting, your reports are already being generated in structured format.
Preliminary vs Final Reports
Report style interacts with report type. Understanding the difference helps you know what to expect.
Preliminary Reports
- Created by residents or on-call radiologists
- Always use a simplified format
- Marked clearly as "PRELIMINARY"
- Style preference does not apply
Final Reports
- Created by attending radiologists
- Use your chosen report style
- Full structured or free-text format
- Sent to referring physicians
Style only applies to Final reports. Preliminary reports always use a simplified format regardless of your style preference.
AI and Report Styles
When you click Generate Full Report, the AI reads your style preference and formats the output accordingly.
Same input, Structured output
Input: "No PE, mild cardiomegaly, small effusions"
Output: Labeled FINDINGS and IMPRESSION sections with numbered items.
Same input, Free-Text output
Input: "No PE, mild cardiomegaly, small effusions"
Output: Narrative paragraphs describing findings and conclusions.
You can always edit after generation. The AI gives you a starting point — feel free to adjust the format, wording, or structure before signing.
Tips
Consistency
- Pick one style and stick with it
- Referring physicians appreciate consistency
- Your preference is applied across all exam types
Templates
- Templates follow your style preference
- Custom templates can override the default style
- Expand "Template Options" on the report page