Radiographic Interpretation and Reporting Standards in Nigerian Veterinary Teaching Hospitals: A Professional Review

Standardized radiographic interpretation and structured reporting are foundational to diagnostic quality assurance in veterinary radiology. Yet in many Nigerian veterinary teaching hospitals, radiographic reporting remains inconsistent, non-standardized, and inadequately documented. This study evaluates the current practices of radiographic interpretation and report writing among veterinary radiologists and surgical residents at six Nigerian teaching hospitals across all six geopolitical zones. A mixed-methods approach combining structured surveys, document audits of archived radiographic reports, and key informant interviews was employed between January and December 2023. A total of 118 archived radiographic reports and responses from 46 veterinary practitioners were analyzed. Results revealed that only 31% of institutions used a structured report template, and systematic anatomical assessment was absent in 58% of reviewed reports. Inter-observer variability in describing lesion severity was high, with concordance rates below 70% in spinal and thoracic radiograph cases. Most practitioners reported insufficient formal training in radiographic reporting during undergraduate studies. Institutional differences in reporting culture were directly linked to postgraduate training available. The study recommends the nationwide adoption of species-specific structured radiographic report templates, integration of radiological reporting modules into PGD veterinary training curricula, and regular inter-institutional radiograph review workshops. Establishing minimum radiographic reporting standards across Nigerian veterinary teaching hospitals will improve diagnostic communication, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes. Keywords: radiographic reporting, veterinary radiology, teaching hospital, diagnostic standards, Nigeria.