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Choosing who evaluates MRI
I am anticipating having an updated MRI done. One thing I have noticed in browsing through info/comments here is that some people seem to have much more detailed info regarding their MRI evaluations.
I am wondering if a person can send/take their MRI to a specific radiologist to read, evaluate and report.
Maybe I am expecting too much....but seems that some people know where their lesions are, what the areas of affect are, what to expect, etc. I feel I just get vague answers when I ask those questions.
I am wondering if a person can send/take their MRI to a specific radiologist to read, evaluate and report.
Maybe I am expecting too much....but seems that some people know where their lesions are, what the areas of affect are, what to expect, etc. I feel I just get vague answers when I ask those questions.
Well, yeah, LauraLu, but you have a good neuro! In too many cases, the neuro never gets PAST the radiologist's report.
the details on the second opinion progam can be read here -
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/international/patients/second_opinions.html
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/international/patients/second_opinions.html
Radiologists read a boatload of films every day. For the subtle nuances of MS lesions, they might not have the time to go into great detail.
My MRI reports from the radiologist -there is always one who reads them - are pretty vague and contain only the minimal details. My neuro tells me that the radiology reports are useless and they know it and don't bother to put a lot of time into the reading and notes. He says he doesn't ever tread their notes and instead relies on his own interpretations.
Your question is ringing somehting in my head - I think we talked about this several years ago and there were some services found that will read the MRIs. I'm thinking you can send all your medical records to Johns Hopkins and they will review them and do a phone consult with you. IT wasnt cheap, though.
My MRI reports from the radiologist -there is always one who reads them - are pretty vague and contain only the minimal details. My neuro tells me that the radiology reports are useless and they know it and don't bother to put a lot of time into the reading and notes. He says he doesn't ever tread their notes and instead relies on his own interpretations.
Your question is ringing somehting in my head - I think we talked about this several years ago and there were some services found that will read the MRIs. I'm thinking you can send all your medical records to Johns Hopkins and they will review them and do a phone consult with you. IT wasnt cheap, though.
Grrrrr.....
... they were all within a block of each other, but all of the images and related.data went back and forth via electronics of one form or another -- as did his report.
... they were all within a block of each other, but all of the images and related.data went back and forth via electronics of one form or another -- as did his report.
My 2nd nrain MRI led to a.discussion between rhe radiologist & myself. I learnedthat that he and the svanning machine and the hospital with which
Ditto jp. They even know HOW MANY lesions they have... I am in Austin, TX getting ready for 3rd MRI (and another radiologist to read it.!
Personally, I don't even know if a radiologist reads my MRIs or not, I never asked. Here is a personal story that I hope will help.....
My neuro, PCP and pain doc are all affiliated with the University of VA. UVAs computer system allows all of them to access any of my records and tests and I also try to have UVA do all of my MRIs. So when the MRI is done as far as I know my neuro is the one that reads it not some radiologist and I know that my PCP can access it and what the neuro puts into my file after he reads it.
I do know however, that a friend of mine (who was DXd about 2.5 years ago) has a different neuro and goes to another local hospital for his tests and it doesn't matter if the radiologist read his scans or not, his neuro gets a copy and reads them himself.
To me any neuro that is worth anything will do this and not just depend on what the radiologist has to say. I know this was a long way around to get to my point but I hope that everything helps.
Jim
My neuro, PCP and pain doc are all affiliated with the University of VA. UVAs computer system allows all of them to access any of my records and tests and I also try to have UVA do all of my MRIs. So when the MRI is done as far as I know my neuro is the one that reads it not some radiologist and I know that my PCP can access it and what the neuro puts into my file after he reads it.
I do know however, that a friend of mine (who was DXd about 2.5 years ago) has a different neuro and goes to another local hospital for his tests and it doesn't matter if the radiologist read his scans or not, his neuro gets a copy and reads them himself.
To me any neuro that is worth anything will do this and not just depend on what the radiologist has to say. I know this was a long way around to get to my point but I hope that everything helps.
Jim
I'm with Sarah. The radiologist is important, but the neuro is vital! I had c & t-spine MRI's done Saturday. I have a phone consult with my neurologist on Wednesday to discuss the findings.
Kyle
Kyle
That's interesting, we should have more say in who reads them and often we don't even see the tech!
So its important that our neuro be able to properly read an MRI, I would think. I know I would have been Dx back in 2005 if mine had known how to read them.
Good point!
So its important that our neuro be able to properly read an MRI, I would think. I know I would have been Dx back in 2005 if mine had known how to read them.
Good point!
I think it's a fair question to ask, though. For goodness' sake, I want to be comfortable with my anesthesiologist. Seems like the radiologist should have the chance to sell me on his/her services. In fact, though, mqny anxillary seevices arw performed by persons and/or compqnies of qhom we're never even aware.
Some of this depends on where you live, the amount of radiologists that are or aren't on staff at your facility. Legislation can also come into play. Teleradiology (scans sent digitally to be read off-site) is a reality. If you live in the US, the law is your radiologist must be physically present in the United States.
Imaging is easily digitised these days and it is often more cost effective to send the scans to cheaper 'readers'. Again, depending on legislation, this could be anywhere in the world. I'm sure the facility you'll be using will be happy to tell you if your scans are read 'in house', but above that, I'm not sure you can pick and chose who does it. It's who's on staff.
Imaging is easily digitised these days and it is often more cost effective to send the scans to cheaper 'readers'. Again, depending on legislation, this could be anywhere in the world. I'm sure the facility you'll be using will be happy to tell you if your scans are read 'in house', but above that, I'm not sure you can pick and chose who does it. It's who's on staff.
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