Incidental Finding
An incidental finding is something seen on a scan that was not what the doctor was originally looking for.
When to get help quickly: Most incidental findings are not emergencies, but some need prompt review if they look suspicious for cancer, bleeding, infection, blocked blood flow, or another serious problem.
Common symptoms
An incidental finding may cause no symptoms at all. It is often discovered while checking another problem.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps detect these unexpected findings and also helps decide whether they look harmless, need follow-up, or need urgent attention.
What radiology does
Radiologists describe incidental findings to make sure important unexpected abnormalities are not missed, even when they are unrelated to the original reason for the scan.
What usually happens next
Management may be simple reassurance, routine follow-up, another scan, or referral depending on what was found.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related articles
- What an 'Incidental Finding' MeansAn incidental finding is something noticed on a scan that was not the original reason for the test. That can be harmless, important, or somewhere in between.
- Common Words in a Radiology Report, ExplainedRadiology reports can feel like reading a foreign language. Understanding a few common terms helps you read your report with clinical calm.
- What 'No Acute Findings' Means on a ReportThis phrase is usually reassuring, but it does not always mean the scan was perfectly normal in every possible way.
Related scan guides
- Adrenal MRIAn Adrenal MRI is a focused scan of the small glands that sit above each kidney. It is most often used to characterise a mass found unexpectedly on another scan, and to tell harmless adenomas apart from lesions that need further attention.
- Whole-Body MRIA Whole-Body MRI scans the body from head to thigh in a single appointment. It is used to track cancer spread, monitor certain blood disorders, and as a screening test in people at high genetic risk of cancer. It uses no ionising radiation and often does not require contrast dye.