“Will the MRI scan results be ready the same day?”
I am a 17-year-old male and I will have an MRI scan of my brain. Will the MRI scan results be ready the same day?
6 Answers
RadiologistRadiologist
30 min at my clinic
Most larger facilities provide the results of MRI on the same day of the test. Sometimes, depending on how complex the imaging is, then it may be necessary to spend a little bit more time. Most of the time, the results of imaging are available either the same day or the next day.
Yes
Hi,
The question regarding your MRI results is a good and valid one. In general, most routine outpatient MRI exams should have a final report ready the same day. There are a few exceptions such as : but not limited to: Exam was done at 10pm on a Friday night and the number pf physicians working that weekend will be a lot less and the main priority for physicians over the weekend will be emergency room, hospital inpatients, even then theirs a good chance your exam will be read w/in 12-24hours. If you exam is complicated and follow up from a previous exam done at another facility, getting prior exam for comparison is much more important then the turnaround report time that doesn't answer questions relative to prior studies. In addition even if an MRI exam that isn't urgent, but the ordering physician would like a preliminary result they can call the Radiology Dept and ask to speak with a radiologist or leave a message with secretary to call the Dr asap. I'm going to stop for now as there are countless add'lt scenarios that can arise and result in delay for a exam report not being available. The long and short answer to your question is yes you will almost always have a report done the same day exam was completed.
Sincerely,
FM Barnett, MD
The question regarding your MRI results is a good and valid one. In general, most routine outpatient MRI exams should have a final report ready the same day. There are a few exceptions such as : but not limited to: Exam was done at 10pm on a Friday night and the number pf physicians working that weekend will be a lot less and the main priority for physicians over the weekend will be emergency room, hospital inpatients, even then theirs a good chance your exam will be read w/in 12-24hours. If you exam is complicated and follow up from a previous exam done at another facility, getting prior exam for comparison is much more important then the turnaround report time that doesn't answer questions relative to prior studies. In addition even if an MRI exam that isn't urgent, but the ordering physician would like a preliminary result they can call the Radiology Dept and ask to speak with a radiologist or leave a message with secretary to call the Dr asap. I'm going to stop for now as there are countless add'lt scenarios that can arise and result in delay for a exam report not being available. The long and short answer to your question is yes you will almost always have a report done the same day exam was completed.
Sincerely,
FM Barnett, MD
Yes, at my centers, within 2 hours.
Depending on the institution and what day of the week the MR is performed, the results should be available the same day.
