Lesion
Lesion is a general imaging term for an abnormal area seen in tissue or an organ.
When to get help quickly: Urgency depends on the organ involved and the wider clinical picture. A lesion in the brain, lung, abdomen, or bone may need faster review if symptoms are severe or changing quickly.
Common symptoms
A lesion itself is an imaging description, so symptoms depend on where it is and what is causing it. Some lesions cause no symptoms, while others relate to pain, swelling, bleeding, or organ-specific problems.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps describe the lesion's size, shape, location, and behavior, which guides whether it looks harmless, needs follow-up, or needs more testing.
What radiology does
Radiologists use the word when describing something unusual before its exact nature is fully known.
What usually happens next
Some lesions are harmless and only need observation, while others need more imaging, biopsy, or treatment depending on their features.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related articles
- 3T vs 1.5T MRI: Is the Stronger Magnet Actually Better?Stronger magnets sound better on paper, but the answer depends on what your doctor is looking for. Here is what 3T and 1.5T actually do differently.
- Do I Need Contrast for My CT or MRI? What Patients Should KnowContrast can make a scan far more informative, but it is reasonable to ask why it is needed and what it may feel like.
- Open MRI vs Closed MRI: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?Fear of the tunnel keeps many people from getting an MRI at all. Knowing the difference between open and closed scanners can help you choose with confidence.
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.
- Liver MRI with Hepatobiliary ContrastA Liver MRI with hepatobiliary contrast is a detailed scan that uses a special dye taken up by liver cells. It can provide highly detailed test for characterising liver lesions and is often used to confirm or rule out liver cancer without a biopsy.
- MammographyMammography is a branch of Radiology that involves the use of low-energy X-rays to see the inside of the breasts. This investigation is of growing popularity because it can be used to routinely check the breast for growths, lesions or calcifications without much associated risks.