title: How I read cancer imaging studies: the master class series.
abstract: The generation of a report of findings and a conclusion for an imaging study is a fundamental process in the diagnostic work-up of cancer patients and plays a critical role in treatment decisions. It is therefore important that cancer imaging specialists understand the needs of referring clinicians and can perform this process in a methodical manner. Surprisingly, in contrast to the literature regarding the outcomes of imaging, education regarding the methods that underpin the generation of a report and how to communicate the findings cogently to referring clinicians is rather sparse. In an upcoming series of articles that will appear in in Cancer Imaging, experts in various modalities will detail their approach to reporting scans in particular disease settings. In this article some personal perspectives on the process of reporting scans will be detailed as a guide to what will be elaborated in the "Master Class Series".
authors.affiliation: Cancer Imaging, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrew's Place, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia. rod.hicks@petermac.org.|The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. rod.hicks@petermac.org.
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D033162:Incidental Findings; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014956:Writing