Diagnostic Uncertainty & Improving Diagnostic Certainty in Radiology.

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.