Learn how to move beyond vague phrases and write ultrasound reports that are clearer, more useful—and easier to produce.

Every first opinion vet surgeon has been there: typing up an ultrasound report and reaching for that default phrase—normal, WNL (within normal limits), nothing obvious seen, or NAD (nothing abnormal detected). These lines sound reassuring but, more often than not, they hold a hidden subtext. They’re less about what you saw and more about how sure you felt at the time.

Let’s get honest about what these phrases really mean, how vague reporting holds back clinical value, and how a clear structure can transform your veterinary ultrasound skills—and boost your confidence, too.

What Common Report Phrases Really Mean

It’s easy to rely on phrases like detected, obvious, and within normal limits. But these words reveal more about your state of mind than your scan’s findings:

• Detected—this really means “detected by me.” It gently admits, “someone else might have spotted something I missed.”
• Obvious—suggests I’m only noting what stands out. The subtle signs could have slipped by.
• Within normal limits—a way to hedge my bets. It feels safer when I’m not actually sure where the limits are.

The Problem with Vague Reporting

Phrases like “nothing abnormal detected” or “WNL” can feel safe—but they don’t always show what you actually saw or checked. That can make it harder for colleagues, referral vets, or even your future self to follow the case confidently.

Even a brief, structured description makes your report more useful—especially when it comes to follow-up decisions or comparisons later on.

When You Start Second-Guessing Yourself

It’s easy to wonder if someone else would’ve done a better job—or seen more than you did. That feeling shows up a lot in ultrasound, especially when the image isn’t clear or you’re not sure how to describe what you saw.

Sometimes, vague phrases sneak in just to help you feel safer. But the more you name exactly what you did see—even if it’s not perfect—the more confident you’ll become over time.

Why Vets Default to Safe Phrases

So, why do you fall back on these safe phrases?

• Lack of confidence—unsure if you’ve seen everything.
• Worrying about saying the wrong thing—or not knowing how to describe what you saw
• No feedback—without comments from others, your reporting never improves.
• The last, unspoken reason is simple: it feels like too much effort to change, especially on a busy shift.

The Consequences of Vague Reporting

Sticking to vague terms slows your growth as a vet. It makes your communication less valuable to the team and can even impact how future clinical decisions are made for a patient. Vague notes make it harder to follow up, harder to compare—and harder for anyone reading them to know what was actually seen.

What Makes a Great Vet Report?

A strong veterinary ultrasound report does three things:

• Shows your clinical thinking.
• Communicates real clinical value.
• Helps you learn from every scan you do.

Even when a scan is normal, a full, structured report proves you checked everything systematically. It gives the next clinician (and your future self) confidence in the process.

The Impact of Reports on Readers

Clients, colleagues, and referral vets will read between the lines. If your report is vague, they internalise messages like not ruled out or might still be something going on. Even if the scan was done well, a short or unclear report can leave others unsure what was actually checked—or how confident you were.

Contrasting Vague vs. Structured Reports

Let’s compare:

Vague example:

• “Nothing abnormal detected.”

Structured example:

• “Liver normal in size and shape, positioned appropriately within the cranial abdomen. Parenchyma homogeneous with normal echogenicity. Margins smooth and well defined. No focal or diffuse lesions identified. No abnormal vascular patterns or biliary dilatation observed. Sampling not performed.”

The structured version inspires trust. It tells anyone reading exactly what you checked, how you checked, and makes your scan findings useful for follow-up care.

If you want more clarity on abdominal ultrasound, reading this article on A Systematic Approach to Veterinary Abdominal Ultrasound could be incredibly useful.

The Four Pillars of Confident Ultrasound Reporting

At FOVU, we teach the four pillars that turn scanning into skill:

• Structure: Provides confidence every time you scan and write.
• Practise: Builds good habits.
• Feedback: Fuels growth and learning.
• Reporting: Adds clinical value with every scan.

These pillars help you step beyond “safe” wording and into clear, clinical reporting.

Why Structure is Key to Confidence

When you use a structured approach, report writing becomes easier and faster. The fear of missing something fades. Structured frameworks help you communicate value in your veterinary ultrasound reports and speed up the process over time.

Introducing the SPEEDS™ Framework

The FOVU SPEEDS™ checklist is our go-to tool for reporting in veterinary ultrasound.

Each letter is a prompt:

1. Size
2. Shape
3. Position
4. Echogenicity
5. Echo texture
6. Edge
7. Distribution 
8. Dynamics
9. Sampling

This framework helps you describe each organ and lesion methodically, cutting through doubts.

How SPEEDS™ Removes Guesswork

By following the FOVU SPEEDS™ prompts, you replace vague phrases with clear, structured observations. It helps you record exactly what you’ve seen—even if you’re unsure, you can still describe it in a way that’s honest and helpful. The result is a report that’s careful but confident—giving others the clarity they need to make good clinical decisions.

Example 1: Reporting a Normal Kidney

Before:

• “Kidneys NAD”

After (using SPEEDS):

• Size: Left kidney measured 3.63 cm in length, within normal reference range. Renal pelvis not dilated; no pyelectasia observed.
• Shape: Typical bean shape.
• Position: Identified in normal anatomical location just caudal to costal arch.
• Echogenicity: Normal cortical and medullary echogenicity with clear cortico-medullary distinction. No nephroliths seen.
• Echotexture: Parenchyma homogeneous.
• Edge: Margins smooth and well defined.
• Dynamics: Doppler applied; normal intrarenal blood flow observed.
• Distribution: No focal or regional abnormalities detected.
• Sampling: Not performed.

Every key factor—size, shape, location, structure—gets documented, leaving nothing to doubt.

Example 2: When a Structure Isn’t Visualised

If you can’t fully visualise the left limb of the pancreas, the old habit was to write, “pancreas not visualised.” Now, SPEEDS gives clarity:

• “Left limb of the pancreas not confidently identified. Stomach, spleen, and transverse colon landmarks obtained. No mass effect in this region, abnormal echogenicity, or peripancreatic fluid noted.”

It shows not just what you didn’t find, but what you did check—adding real clinical context and helping others understand your thinking.

Example 3: Reporting Abnormal Liver Echogenicity

Vague report:

• “Liver within normal limits.”

Structured SPEEDS version:

• “Liver normal in size and position, smooth and well-defined margins. Parenchyma appears diffusely hypo-echoic with prominent portal vein walls creating marked contrast. No focal lesions or abnormal distribution seen. No biliary dilatation or dynamic changes. Sampling not performed.”

Here, every detail is captured, so any future review is built on solid information.

Example 4: Enlarged Prostate with Lesions

Quick note: “Prostate enlarged.”

SPEEDS description:

• “Prostate was markedly enlarged but in normal anatomical position. Shape was preserved. Parenchyma heterogeneous with one well-defined anechoic structure suggestive of a cyst with acoustic enhancement, and one region of hyperechoic modelling. Margins were smooth, changes distributed throughout the gland. Doppler not assessed. Ultrasound-guided prostatic wash performed. Diagnosis: urethelial carcinoma.”

This tells a full clinical story, supporting ongoing decision-making.

Common Pitfall: “Appears” as a Disclaimer

Writing “adrenal gland appears normal” is tempting—but it’s often used as a safety net. It can sound like everything’s fine, even if you weren’t fully sure you saw it. That kind of wording can make it harder for the next vet to understand what was actually visualised—and what wasn’t. Instead, try using structured observations. Even if you’re not 100% confident, just describe what you did see.

How Confidence Grows with Feedback and Practise

Confidence doesn’t just come from doing more scans—it comes from looking back at what you did. When you review your own reports and reflect on what you saw (and how you described it), things start to click.

Over time, you’ll spot patterns in your language, see where you’ve been vague, and get better at being specific. And when you look back at the case later, you’ll start seeing what you got right—and where you could go further next time.

Overcoming the Fear of Effort and Time

It might feel like it takes longer at first—especially when you’re already short on time. But with a framework like SPEEDS™, you’re not starting from scratch each time. The structure shortens the time you  need for each report and soon becomes second nature.

Introducing the FOVU Report Tool

The FOVU Report tool supports vets through every step of reporting, using the SPEEDS™ framework to prompt for the right details. It bridges the skills gap and boosts your confidence by turning scan descriptions into clear, clinical reports. It’s more than a tool; it’s part of a support system—designed to fit into your day, even when time’s tight—and to help you keep improving, scan by scan.

Why FOVU Report Helps You Learn Faster

FOVU Report gives you a space to review your scans and reports without pressure. You can spot patterns, tidy up your language, and build confidence in what you’re writing—before anyone else sees it.

It’s a safe way to practise, reflect, and get better over time—without the worry of being judged or feeling exposed.

Want to Try FOVU Report Early?

FOVU Report will be ready for wider use in 2026—but if you join the October 2025 Basics course, you’ll get early access to try it out during the course—sharing feedback and helping improve how it works in real practice. It’s a chance to be part of building something that’s designed for vets like you.

You can find full course details at https://www.fovu.co.uk/ultrasound-basics

Encouragement to Practise Structured Reporting

Looking back at your own last few reports, do you see opportunities to use SPEEDS™? Rewriting them with clear prompts helps you track what you’ve learned and spot areas you want to improve. Growth comes from regular practise—not perfection.

Building Confidence One Report at a Time

Improving your ultrasound reporting doesn’t have to mean rewriting everything overnight. Start small. Pick one phrase you’d usually use—like “WNL” or “NAD”—and replace it with a clear observation using SPEEDS™. That single change adds real value.

Over time, you’ll build a habit that strengthens your confidence, supports your patients, and helps your whole team work more effectively. That’s the power of one well-written report.

Want to keep building your skills—and your confidence? This article walks through how to spot the difference between gas and foreign body shadowing on ultrasound.

_____________

About Camilla

I’m a first-opinion vet, and I know what it’s like to feel unsure at the screen. That’s why I started FOVU—to help busy vets feel more confident using ultrasound in real consults, even when time is short. Through my signature course The Basics and the FOVU Club membership, I share simple frameworks, ways to practise without pressure, and tips for writing reports you’ll actually feel proud of.