Visions of normality? Early experiences of radiographic reporting

Abstract This article reflects on my early [student] experiences in learning to undertake radiographic reporting and uses critical incidents to highlight two areas of error during this period. These errors include perceptual (optical illusions and, in particular, the Mach band effect) and lack of subject specific knowledge (specifically anatomical knowledge—especially of normal anatomical variants). These two errors are analysed in the wider context of radiological error and the difficulty in reaching consensus even between experienced reporters. Author Keywords: Radiographic reporting; Mach band effect; Optical illusion; Pattern recognition; Radiological error; Anatomical variants