“Findings: Hypoventilatory changes are noted at the lung bases bilaterally.”
“Impression: Underventilatory changes at the lung bases bilaterally.”
– should not change from “hypoventilatory” to “underventilatory” in the impression to report the same condition. It can only serve to confuse.
-For the report reader to visualize the finding “hypoventilatory changes” they must know what radiographic findings are possible with hypoventilaton. Using descriptors like “linear basilar opacities” or “increased attenuation” helps the reader create a mental picture, which is the goal of description. These descriptors may also be quantified (segmental, subsegmental etc.)
-the phrase “… at the lung bases bilaterally” is redundant since “bases” is the pleural form of the word, and the lungs are bilateral. Saying “… at the lung bases” covers both lungs without saying “bilaterally.”
Rewritten:
“Findings: Few linear bibasliar opacities.”
“Impression: Mild hypoinflation.”
N.B. – Felson demonstrated that 25% of patients showed no difference between paired inspiration and expiration radiographs. Also, an endomorphic body habitus accentuates the appearance of hypoventilation.