Actionable reporting versus unwanted advice in PET-CT reports

•Management advice in PET-CT reports is frequently unwanted by clinicians. •Advice in PET-CT reports should focus on further imaging or incidental findings. •Clinical significance of findings is preferred over management advice. Aim To investigate the opinions of clinician referrers on the presence and type of management advice in reports of positron-emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) examinations. Materials and methods Eighteen clinicians were interviewed using a structured questionnaire about their opinions on further management advice in PET-CT reports. Results Opinions varied amongst clinicians, but some themes predominated: (1) advice on further imaging tests and areas outside the referrer's area of expertise are more welcome than other types of advice; (2) a differential diagnosis or clinical significance is of greater value than specific management advice; (3) some referrers do not want any further advice. Conclusion Before advising on further management, reporters should consider clinicians' opinions regarding this. Seeking the opinion of clinicians in other hospitals may be necessary. A review of the Royal College of Radiologists Actionable Reports standard to ensure it is more in line with the opinions of clinicians may be useful. To investigate the opinions of clinician referrers on the presence and type of management advice in reports of positron-emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) examinations. Eighteen clinicians were interviewed using a structured questionnaire about their opinions on further management advice in PET-CT reports. Opinions varied amongst clinicians, but some themes predominated: (1) advice on further imaging tests and areas outside the referrer's area of expertise are more welcome than other types of advice; (2) a differential diagnosis or clinical significance is of greater value than specific management advice; (3) some referrers do not want any further advice. Before advising on further management, reporters should consider clinicians' opinions regarding this. Seeking the opinion of clinicians in other hospitals may be necessary. A review of the Royal College of Radiologists Actionable Reports standard to ensure it is more in line with the opinions of clinicians may be useful.