Does a radiologist need previous MRI/CT Scan report to make a new report?

[Maviayme]

Hello everyone!

I was hospitalized for few days and just got home yesterday after got a ct scan.

Before they ran the ct scan, a female radiologist ask about my history and Informed her I got an MRI and MRA last year, in a different hospital.

Just now another radiologist (a male) called me asking me to bring the MRI report to the hospital so they can make their ct scan report.

I'm confuse so I asked why do they need it to make their ct scan report and some more my MRI report is from different hospital, he said that they need it compare, again I ask. Even if my MRi result from a different hospital?

He said yes, it is a must, then I asked him just to make their report according to what they saw from their ct scan machine (here I was worried that they didn't get a clear result and want to make their report based on my MRI report which means the ct scan report will be useless).

Did I do the right thing or am I just being too paranoid? Do you have any knowledge/words about this radiology thing?

Thanks!

[DaveThebe]

It’s helpful if they can compare to previous reports, but if they aren’t available they just have to proceed and do one without having to compare to previous ones. I don’t understand why this seem to be an issue.

[Maviayme in reply to DaveThebe]

Hi DaveThebe, thanks for your comment, As I mentioned in my post, I was worried he will make the report based on my previous report.

[5usie47]

I was an Administrator IC of a Radiology department and it is always good practice to make comparisons where previous X-Rays/Scans are available. No Radiologist would base his report on someone else’s findings. It is in your own interest to comply with their request.

[Maviayme in reply to 5usie47]

Thanks for your comment 5usie47, it is a relieve to hear that a radiologist would not make his report based on other finding/previous report.

[WYOAnne]

It depends on what they are looking at in your MRI. Yes they want the previous MRI report so they can compare. So if you had a cyst, let's just say it was in your lung. They would compare with the one you had last time to 1. see if it is still there. 2. to see if has grown in size and 3. are there more cysts.

When looking at my kidneys, they were getting all scarred up inside. I have FSGS and my kidneys are shrinking. They compare their size.

As a woman, I have yearly mammograms. It is very important that they compare the one I have done this year to see if there have been any changes in the breast tissue from last year.

Don't be paranoid about this. It is a good thing if they want to look and see what was found previously. You want them to compare!!! to see if there has been a change in the findings!

[Maviayme in reply to WYOAnne]

Hi WYOAnne, thanks for your comment. After reading all comments, I suppose it is normal for them to ask about my previous MRI report then. I think I became so worried because the guy who called me seemed offended till he raised his voice after I asked what does he need it for, then he said it is a must for comparison. I asked him why didn't he just make the report based on what he saw, he said no radiologists can make report without seeing previous report, it is a must (it didn't make sense to me and made me more worried)

[WYOAnne in reply to Maviayme]

I would worry MORE if they didn't want to compare with previous reports and films!!