Communicating About Incidental Findings and Other Uncertain Conditions (HLOL #273)

Matthew Davenport MD MBA is Professor of Radiology and Urology, Service Chief, and Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Radiology at Michigan Medicine. He also is Co-Director of the Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer. Dr. Davenport is a co-author on national policy statements and has published over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He is frequently interviewed regarding important issues in radiology including in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, NBC and ABC news, and prominent national magazines. Listen as Matthew Davenport and Helen Osborne discuss: Incidental findings and uncertain conditions. What these terms mean, why they occur, how often they happen. Benefits, harms, and examples of how incidental findings may lead to a cascade of care. Patient-centered communication. Helping patients better understand the implications of such findings and work to take control of their health. More Ways to Learn: “Incidental Findings and Low-Value Care,” by Matthew S. Davenport, American Journal of Roentgenology, January 11, 2023. “Potential Frameworks for Communicating Diagnostic Certainty in Radiology Reports: From the ACR Commission on Quality and Safety,” by multiple authors, JACR, November 2025. “Elective MRI Screening of the General Public—Buyer Beware”, by Matthew S. Davenport and Scott B. Reeder, JAMA, May 6, 2026. Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. The chapter “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Life Choices, and Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials” is especially relevant to this podcast episode. Read a transcript of this podcast. The post Communicating About Incidental Findings and Other Uncertain Conditions (HLOL #273) appeared first on Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast.