BSGI were delighted to welcome Dr Mathew Leonardi for an powerful webinar exploring a subject that is fundamental to everyday clinical practice: the importance of terminology in gynaecological ultrasound.
Titled ‘Lost in Translation? The Importance of Terminology in Gynaecological Ultrasound’, the session examined how commonly used terms and phrases can be interpreted differently and the potential consequences of ambiguity in reporting.
Drawing on examples including ‘complex ovarian cyst’, ‘polycystic ovaries’, ‘heterogeneous myometrium’ and ‘bicornuate uterus’, Dr Leonardis challenged attendees to consider whether the terminology we routinely use communicates exactly what we scan.
A key theme throughout the presentation was the audience for our reports. Increasingly, this extends beyond HCP’s to include patients themselves, many of whom now enter the wording of their ultrasound report into a large language model in an attempt to better understand their findings.
For most, the report is the only record they will see; they may not have access to the ultrasound images or the opportunity to interpret the findings themselves. They are therefore reliant on the words we choose. Our terminology matters.
Dr Leonardi highlighted how outdated or ambiguous language can potentially result in findings being over- or under-investigated – unnecessary additional imaging, sampling, referrals and even surgery. Equally, unclear reporting can contribute to delayed or missed diagnoses and avoidable patient anxiety.
The discussion explored terminology and reporting challenges across several areas of gynaecological ultrasound, including the adnexa, endometrium, myometrium, uterine anomalies, early pregnancy and the posterior compartment. He also considered the use of the term ‘normal scan’, highlighting the importance of providing appropriate context rather than relying on a phrase that may not fully communicate the scope or limitations of an examination.
The webinar provided an excellent opportunity to reflect on a seemingly simple but hugely important aspect of our work: how we describe what we see, and how those descriptions are understood by others.
The presentation was followed by an engaging and active question and answer session, with excellent participation from attendees.
The session was chaired by BSGI Honorary Treasurer, Ms Ghada Salman.
The BSGI would like to thank Dr Leonardi for this excellent and thought-provoking presentation, and all those who joined us for a valuable discussion.
The full recording of this webinar is available on demand for BGSI members.