Member

dEr Dr. Pulmo,

tnx 4 referring yr patient Mr.X.

I found dat d CT scan of hs thorax showd a mild pleural effusion on d ryt cYd. there’s no abnormality n d lungs n mediastinum. I dnt tnk tube drainage or needl aspiration S needed @ dis point n tym.

We cUd w8 n woch d clinical progression. I recomend dat he B reviewed W chest radiography n utlrasound scan ina week’s tym.

rgds,

scanman

Inspired by this post by my friend Lakshmi, lamenting the dying arts of grammar, syntax and punctuation in the English language…

The age of SMS and IMs has ushered in a total and complete disregard for punctuations.  I know many people have huffed and puffed about it, and let me add my own to them.  I could fall on Lynn Truss’s shoulders and sob my heart out.

More specifically by her reply to my comment…

Would you write a report of a scan as “U hve no tumr. B haP :)”.

Radiology reports are too technical to convert into SMSese. So I attempted a letter to a referring doctor.

I have to be honest here. I cannot claim credit for the masterpiece posted above. I am not dumb creative enough to come up with that on my own. I Googled and came up with this whacky site that offers to translate from Word 2 lingo (and vice versa).

For those of you who are thankfully SMSese-challenged, here is the original text…

Dear Dr. Pulmo,

Thanks for referring your patient Mr.X.

I found that the CT scan of his thorax showed a mild pleural effusion on the right side. There is no abnormality in the lungs and mediastinum. I do not think tube drainage or needle aspiration is required at this point in time. We could wait and watch the clinical progression.

I recommend that he be reviewed with chest radiography and utlrasound scan in a week’s time.

Regards,

scanman.

It’s even more hilarious when the SMSese spewed out by the site is retranslated into plain English!!

dear doctor the lung,

thanks for referring your the one who suffers mister. kiss.

I found that the city scan of has thorax showed a mild pleural effusion on the right side. there is no abnormality and the lungs and mediastinum. I do not think tube drainage or needle goal is required at this point and time. We could wait and watch the clinical progression.

I recommend that he be reviewed with chest radiography and utlrasound scan in a week’s time.

regards,

scanman.

I even found an sms txt message shorthand dictionary to help you all out in your endeavours. I believe I know my audience (yes, I meant you, MBA).

Have fun people

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