Diagnostic Uncertainty & Improving Diagnostic Certainty in Radiology

Authors

• Ariadne K. DeSimone, Harvard University, Boston, MA
• Francis Deng, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
• Bryan Kirk, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC
• Christine Liu, Texas Christian University, Forth Worth, TX
• Julia H. Miao, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Kathleen H. Miao, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
• Megan Worthington, Touro University, Middletown, NY
• Christian Farinas, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL
• Gitanjali Bajaj, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
• Joe Jose, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
• M.  Jane Clayton, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Atul Agarwal, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
• Stuart L. Cohen, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, NY
• Edwin Gulko, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
• Anugayathri Jawahar, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
• Gary J. Whitman, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-3-2026

Publication Title

Academic Radiology

Abstract

The Radiology Research Alliance (RRA) of the Association of Academic Radiology (AAR) convenes task forces to study trends that will shape the future of radiology . In this article, the AAR-RRA Task Force on Diagnostic Uncertainty in Radiology set out to examine the causes of diagnostic uncertainty in radiology and identify strategies to improve and communicate diagnostic certainty. Drawing on a targeted literature review and expert insights from medical students, residents, and radiologists across subspecialties, the group identified key drivers of uncertainty and synthesized evidence-informed recommendations. Proposed strategies span quality improvement, research, artificial intelligence (AI) integration, education, and report standardization, with emphasis on effective communication of uncertainty to clinicians and patients.

First Page

2751

Last Page

2764

PubMed ID

42242823

Volume

33

Issue

7

Rights

© 2026 The Association of Academic Radiology.

Recommended Citation

DeSimone, Ariadne K.; Deng, Francis; Kirk, Bryan; Liu, Christine; Miao, Julia H.; Miao, Kathleen H.; Worthington, Megan; Farinas, Christian; Bajaj, Gitanjali; Jose, Joe; Clayton, M.  Jane; Agarwal, Atul; Cohen, Stuart L.; Gulko, Edwin; Jawahar, Anugayathri; and Whitman, Gary J., "Diagnostic Uncertainty & Improving Diagnostic Certainty in Radiology" (2026). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 4871.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/4871
10.1016/j.acra.2026.02.025