Hi, I'm just wondering how long the wait normally is for results for MRI scan and what the norm is for receiving them; do you get a letter if it's good or bad news or do they ring you sooner if it's bad news? I had the scan 2 weeks ago and haven't heard anything but when I came out, they said to phone up the hospital a week later, but when I phoned, they said the final report wasn't ready yet, should I be worried? I was also in the scanner for about 45mins altogether and had to have dye into my arm and buscopan. Any information would be helpful as the wait is making me worry!
Hello, I'm an SHO in Neuro so can answer this one for you!
After having your MRI/CT, a Radiologist will view the findings and type up a report onto the hospital system. (When doctors type in your NHS no, it will bring up all of your details - they click on a 'radiology' section which shows the date and kind of scan you had. Now it either says 'partial' meaning you had the scan but it's not had the final report from the radiologist or 'report available' which is where I'd click it and read the findings if nobody had called/bleeped/emailed me or left a hard copy on my desk.... It's just about remembering to check the results when you've ordered it for the patient).
SO! You've had the scan and they're just waiting for a fully qualified Radiologist to review the findings and report them back to the doctor who ordered them. Usually, if there's something urgent that requires attention, the radiologist would prioritise this report... Then call the consultant's secretary and tell them it's done and the scan findings need to be taken to the consultant (who would then get in touch).
Becauae you have telephoned to ask about the results, the secretary 'should' in theory be checking every day to see if it's been reported on yet. They can print it and take it to the doctor saying you've telephoned and want to know what's happening.
Maybe keep chasing every other day. It shouldn't take long now! Most people are quite understanding if you explain how anxious you are. Try not to worry too much!!
(Sorry for rambling) xx
P.S- don't be fooled into thinking you have to wait for a letter. After the consultant has seen the report (which the secretary can bring to their attention) they usually call you if they know you're anxious or they can give permission for the secretary to read you the results.... Or, the secretary will phone to book you in for a follow-up appointment where the consultant will discuss the results with you face to face.
Hope this helps!! Xx
Hi jess i had my mri results through try not to worry mind i was the same i waited nearly 3weeks my family kept saying know news is good news if they thought emergency they wouldve got results quicker hope u ok i was same 40 mins in mri i didnt like atall i'd try phone your consultants secterary you just might get answers .
My results show i have a Benign dermoid cyst which i was happy its not cancerous x
Hi,
Thanks for your reply! That's very helpful thank you. I had an email from the consultants secretary today saying that the consultant received my report, and has written a letter which I should get very soon! Didn't say anything about my results etc and not willing to tell me anything else which is frustrating!
Hi,
It's been 2 weeks now but today had an email saying I should be receiving a letter very soon! Don't know anything more about the results though!
So I have had my mri results today over the phone after ringing up and still not receiving a letter. The secretary said that the mri showed that there are enlarged lymph glands, which I'm not sure what that means really in terms of what's wrong but I am quite worried. Apparently there will be a meeting to discuss in 2 weeks and go from there.. Couldn't tell me exactly where they were either, somewhere in tummy/bowel area.. so not sure what to think really! Think I will make appointment with docs this week to go talk about it.
Jess
Hey Jess,
I wouldn't worry too much about yor enlarged lymph nodes... A LOT of different factors can cause them to swell.
Your GP will have a copy of the report so will be able to read it and discuss the findings with you.
Please let me know how you get on- thinking of you x
I'm quite worried now as the doctor at hospital has asked to see a lot sooner than originally planned but said not to worry.. so going in six days rather than weeks, why would they bring it forward? Should I be worried?
Hi very interesting to read this. How did you get on in the end? I've not had much luck getting people to reply to me on this website so far, so if anyone reads this and can reply, I'd be grateful.
I have 2 cysts on my right ovary which were identified at an ultrasound and recently had an MRI scan. This lasted about an hour and a half, and I had to have 2 different types of contrast injected into my arm, the second one was done towards the end. They told me the report would take 5-6 weeks, however the consultant's secretary told me 4 days later that the report was available and had been emailed to her and she would attach it to my notes and try to get hold of the consultant that day. That was last Friday (6 days ago) and I haven't heard a thing since, despite ringing and leaving a message for the secretary.
I am getting very anxious as I just want to know what's going on and no one will tell me. I am considering going to my GP tomorrow to see if they can help find out. I'm 45 and was initially referred - 20 weeks ago I might add - for a sudden change in my menstrual pattern (very prolonged, heavy periods which made me anaemic). So far I've seen the consultant once and have not had a diagnosis or any treatment.
Does anyone know the reason why after getting my head MRI today the tech then told me he is now going to put a rush on my results? Rather than waiting the 3 weeks he said I should have in 2-3 days... Kinda panicked as to why he wants it looked at so fast
Hi Red
So if we've been given an appt for 5 weeks time would you say there's no need to worry?
I've just been told by Wantage Health Centre in OXon that it takes eight weeks to turn around an MRI scan, because the results are outsourced. Mine is nine weeks away and still not arrived.
Hi Michelle, I wondered how you got on after your scan? I had my MRI yesterday and exactly the same thing happened. I have an appointment on Monday and although I'm trying not to worry I am getting anxious. I hope everything worked out for you.
Hi I had a ct scan done on my brain and sinuses two days ago as have had sinusitis and headaches and stiff and sore neck now for past month and been on antibiotics for three weeks and still hasn't gone away plus lots of natural remedies, pain killers, inflammatory medicine, saline nasal spray. Anyway long story short got a call from the doctors today that I have to go in for a non urgent appointment in regards to my ct scan. What do you think this could be? Have also been having gallactorhea too for the first time ever aswell since I have been having this sinusitis the past month. I know obviously only the doctors will know but I can't get in til next monday cause his fully booked so just want to know what non urgent results mean after a ct scan? And I know he said he would only contact me if something came up.
HI, also waiting close to 5 weeks for mri results to come back.
I found a hard lump in my leg in october last year, which has steadily increased in size - fair to say it's triple sized in the last 6 months, and i'm not sure if it's spread across the back on my knee as well (currently on the inner side of the leg/knee area) or whether this is just the disruption to the surrounding tissue as a result of this lump. I've had an US, then an x-ray and now the MRI scans done and still no idea what this is - and to be fair, it is quite concerning!! It's not painful, it doesn't move and it's not soft, which rules out lipomas and cysts, from what I can gather...
The ortho consultants secretary replied to my voicemail message saying they were still waiting on the results as one of the radiologists were off sick! I'm not sure if the lack of urgency on this means I should chill a bit as it can't be that concerning if it's taking them this long to forward the results.....hoping it's the case, but to know what it is would make me relax much more!
Good luck to all - I don't think people really realise how stressful it can be waiting to find out what's going on in your own body...
x0
I'm new but I've been waiting for 5 and a half weeks for a report. The report wasn't ready at 4 weeks and the Nurse was being cagey to say the least. Should I keep trying or just wait?
Hope everything goes okay!!! However, on this specific topic, I've been told by my hospital that I have problems with my left ankle, such as; flat foot(club foot), sprained ankle/torn ligament and he navicular bone is dislocated. I went for an MRI scan and just got the letter today, I'm yet to contact the doctor about results... Any help on what'd happen, what'd need to be required for example, would surgery be needed? Also, both my GP and the doctor at the hospital never included physio theropy, so I'm assuming that that wouldn't help x
Hi there, Know that it has been a while since first posting but - just to say - I have a suspected knee cartilage tear and can't do my job, I had a scan 7 weeks ago and still no result??!! My doc says that they are taking around 14 weeks?
My point is - how the heck do they get a backlog of 14 weeks??
Thank you to every one above sharing their experiences.
I had a CT scan which showed up something that needed futher investigation and was booked in for an emergency MRI scan to "put my mind at rest". I had the appointment two weeks later (although I only knew about it when the department phoned me up to check I was coming as I had not received a letter even though they had assured me that one had been sent).
It wasn't as bad as I thought as being tall and having my stomach/groin area scanned, the top of my head pocked out the end of the tunnel!
After completion the radiologist asked me when my appointment was, when I told him that I didn't have one he told me to ring if I hadn't heard after two weeks.
It's been over two weeks (3) and I still haven't heard. My friends and family are all insisting that I ring, as to be honest, even though I know it's probably nothing, I am still quite anxious. However I have no idea who to call as I first saw a consultant who ordered the original set of tests, and then in one of the procedures after the results of the doctor said there was something enlarged on the CT Scan that needed further investigation and he was the one who sent me for an emergency scan.