How long does it take to hear about an MRI?

[CityChick1985]

I had my MRI last week the results are in and nobody has called me and I called them early at noon and left a message for the doctors who havent called me back yet.  I am wondering if its good or bad that they haven't called me back yet.

[CityChick1985]

Thanks for the comments everyone.  It took about a week and it was done in Philadelphia at the University of Penn Health System.  

[shermay]

You should have the results back within the hour.  The tech reads the results, puts them on a report and then a disc.

This is France though, and we don't wait for anything.  Results are immediate.

Maybe you'll have to wait a few days, depending on where you live?

You shouldn't have to wait more than a few days though.

Debs

[Karen99]

Hi.  As a patient, you have the absolute right to your medical records on demand.  If you want a written copy for yourself now, go to the facility and get it.  If you'd like your neurologist to give you the results, call again and/or make an appointment.  

I hope your neurologist doesn't make you wait too long.  Good luck.

[Melissa072]

Wow I get mine results back the same day, it must be different here in Australia.
I have in the past had the mri, then the films are checked and signed of by the dr and then I wait for the report to be typed up and I can the report and film to my neuro on the same day.

With my last 3 mri's I have asked the tech on the wait out if they have ever found anything and always have been told they are normal, now I dread getting the next one and asking them in case they tell me I will have to wait and see the neuro.

I am not sure if they will tell me if they ever find anything, I do know they are not allowed.

Melissa

[HVAC]

My first one took three weeks. It depends how busy the Neurologist is. He needs to look at it. My Neurologist will not allow the imaging center to give me anything before my appointment with him so he can explain it. The first Neurologist  told me he thought I had MS on the phone and just sent me the report in the mail and I could not make heads or tails of it. It freaked me out because I thought it was worse than it was because I looked up stuff on the internet and did not understand what I was looking at. You want a Neurologist to explain it face to face.


Do you have a follow up Neurologist appointment?

Alex

[doublevision1]

I expect that procedures vary greatly from one facility to the next.  Some facilities will only release the report and films to the referring physician.  Some will release directly to the patient on physician's orders.  Some will provide directly to the patient upon request. Some charge a fee for the films, others do not.  

Response times vary as well.  I had one report the next day.  Another time, waited a few weeks.  I have had MRIs at both public and private facilities, and in general found no huge difference the time it took to get my results.

Because of all the variables I wouldn't make any assumptions about what it means that you've not gotten a call yet.

The advice to call them yourself is your best bet, and to keep calling until either they or your physician can provide the info to you.  It is possible to fall through the cracks so it's better to act than to sit and wait and wait and wait.

[kmil1999]

You should be able to go where you got it done and pick up the films/disk and copy of the written report.  Having it in hand is helpful when you go back to doc.

Maybe call the place you got it done and ask their protocol on picking up the results.

Goodluck,
Karen

[tiredofwaiting4answers]

I gave the lab my work fax.  I told them it was my primary physician's fax number....a small white lie.  In any case I got my report, then was so irritated with how long my dr's office took to get back to me.  THen they didnt even go over the report with me, just told me what their "thoughts" were.  I was glad to have my report to be able to do my own research.  I have since found a new doc.  Some doc's are so insensitive to the waiting period they have no idea how it feels to be the one waiting.  

Typically you should have the MRI report within 24-48 hrs.  I would continue calling, dont let them forget you