Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1312898 tn?1314568133

MRI films or cd disk---what is normal

I went to my new neurologist a month or so ago.  I brought her a disk of the extensive MRI's that were done in late February.  She told me she was unable to read the them becuase they were poor quality and blurry.  She asked me "did you move"----why does everything have to be the fault of the patient?

Anyway, she asked me to get the actual films (hard copy).  I called the hospital where they were done and was told they don't do films now only only record on disk things.  

Is this normal?  Are MRI's only on disk now?

thanks Lois
11 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
why would a doctor charge to intrepret the mri i took him on disk? I also took the reports from the radiologist.. I thought  this is why they charge a consultation fee.
Helpful - 0
1453990 tn?1329231426
The disk is the DICOM images right from the computer.  Films will look even worse.  The disk is the actual DICOM data sets.  MRI has always been a computer generated image, the films were "printed from the data on the disk.  By the way, if there was movement and the study is technically unsatisfactory, the imaging center should redo the study.  They should not let a technically unsat study  out of their facility.

Films for CAT and CT always come from the data set, so I'd be looking for a Neurologist that knew that.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a mri done for brain scan and c spine, and when i asked for the report they said the doctor that ordered them read his own mri, my primary doctor and the now orthopedic doctor that I have sent a release for those reports to be released to them , and as of today that has not been done. I have the disk but every doctor I take them to need the report, which this doctor won't release, isn't it someone I can pay to read my mri and give me a report.  I don't understand, is it really that hard to get these read
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
My imaging places gives me both and I take both to appointments.
Helpful - 0
1312898 tn?1314568133
Thanks everyone!  I didn't realize that is a common thing now days.  It sounds like if some of the film are blurry when viewed on a small screen they will be blurry on a larger screen.  I don't know if she is technologically challenged or not, she said she was going to take it home to see if she could get it to magnify better.

I have a sinking feeling that she didn't take them home, I think she is a good doctor but like most doctors gets side tracked by more important things.  It worries me that she was relying on the radiologist's report during our first meeting.  I just don't accept that the periventricular bilateral white matter are ischemia.  

Honestly, it really frustrates me that something that important are brushed off that easity.

Anyway,  I hope that at some point they will be redone and read thoroughly.

I'm not moving anymore:-)

Thanks guys

Lois
Helpful - 0
1207048 tn?1282174304
Lois,
My MRI images were available in the hospital computer system. My neuro looked at the images with me the same day I had the MRI done. I also requested a CD copy of the MRI, which the lab burned for me before I left.

I can't imagine anyone moved enough where no images were able to be read. Did you get a copy of the radiologists report? Contact the lab that did the MRI and request that, see what it says. My report stated that the radiologist saw some very subtle lesions in my brain, but in going over the images with my neuro they were so subtle that we couldn't see them! So, the radiologist saw them...but we could not therefore my MRI was considered normal.
~Jess
Helpful - 0
739070 tn?1338603402
Lois,

My CD of my MRIs were not readable because the facility where they were done uses an off-the wall computer program to read the films. I honestly believe it's so they continue to have the upper hand. However...the radiology staff bent over backwards to print me a hard copy at no charge.

To my knowledge, if they can be read on the CD then they can be printed.
The advantage of the disc is the different features it has such as magnification of a particular area and comparison of a particular portion on all films.
Ren
Helpful - 0
1336491 tn?1340619541
ha ha

they told me 1st MRI was FUZZY whatever that means xx

They asked if i moved but i never moved a muscle just incase i had to have it done again

jan xx
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
I don't think films would improve anything anyway - the quality would be the same, whether it's on disk or on film.

You might ask her if she was able to view the CD - I wonder if she's technologically handicapped.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been told the same.  The last 4 MRI's i've had were only available on CD's (I believe they can do it but not sure why they don't.  Perhaps it's a time/cost issue).  And as an aside, I always have whatever doctor I am seeing burn a copy if they need to have it for their records.  That way I always have a copy if I see a new doc or if I want to look at them myself.  

And please Lois, stop moving around already!!!!!! :)

Frank
Helpful - 0
1336491 tn?1340619541
Hi There

In the UK your MRI results goes straight onto the hospital system computer, so all drs etc can see them or access them.

Jan xx
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease