Except if you come for a screening exam, such as a mammogram or bone density DEXA scan, you will always be referred by a qualified professional for medical imaging. There are several reasons for this referral system, one of which is appropriate care: Your referring doctor is trained to know what to do with your radiology results.

Your referring doctor will receive a report, explain the findings to you, and ensure you receive any appropriate medical care you may need.

Will the radiographer give me my results after the imaging?

The radiographer’s responsibility is only to take the images. A radiographer is a trained healthcare professional who carefully prepares and positions a patient and operates the equipment to produce the images. They are responsible for taking the images but not for interpreting them.

Who interprets the images and writes the report?

A radiologist then analyses and interprets the images. A radiologist is a fully qualified medical doctor who has specialised in interpreting medical images such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound scans to help referring doctors diagnose medical conditions. The radiologist is responsible for preparing a detailed report for your doctor.

So, I won’t receive the results from the radiology staff?

No. The report is highly technical and needs to be reviewed and explained to you by your medical practitioner. Because your referring doctor also has a more complete picture of your health history and current condition, they will discuss a possible diagnosis and treatment plan with you and coordinate any necessary follow-up care.

Sometimes, if the radiologist has seen something on a mammogram that needs further investigation, they may see a patient briefly to discuss a recommended breast ultrasound or biopsy. Radiologists may also give some feedback while doing a complex ultrasound or interventional procedure. In all cases, a radiologist will prepare a report that gets sent to your doctor.

How long does it take to get the results?  

This depends on the type of imaging and the urgency of the case but, generally, the results are available within a few hours. Urgent cases are prioritised. In most cases, your doctor will contact you once they have received the results and/or had a chance to review them. This may mean a follow-up appointment, phone call, or message from your doctor.

What does the radiologist report reveal?

The radiology report includes information about the imaging exam and typically incorporates the clinical information provided by your referring doctor. It also indicates if there were any earlier images to which the new images could be compared.

The report then lists all of the radiologist’s findings, which include structures and processes that appear normal on the images, as well as any abnormalities that can be seen. Finally, the radiologist highlights the most relevant findings in an overall impression that can help the referring doctor identify, confirm, or rule out certain conditions and recommend the next steps.

Because referring doctors need to match the radiologist’s findings with the patient’s symptoms and history, or may want to confirm the results with a biopsy or blood tests, radiologists use words and phrases such as:

• ‘Most likely’ or ‘most compatible with’, which means a very high probability.
• ‘Likely’, which means a high probability.
• ‘May’, which means an intermediate probability.
• ‘No visible sign of,’ which means it cannot be seen on the image.

The radiologist may also suggest further investigation or additional images.   

Am I allowed to view my results or get a copy of the images?

Absolutely. Some radiology practices have a patient portal allowing patients access to their images and results. Alternatively, you are able to request a copy of the imaging and reports from the radiology practice or your doctor.

• This article is part of a series aimed at decoding radiology jargon for patients. Visit our news section for more.
• The article is intended to create awareness and none of the information it contains should replace the need for seeking personal advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
• Apart from selected screening examinations, all radiology procedures are performed upon referral from a qualified medical professional.