MRI results- how long would you expect to wait if it showed something serious?

[greengrass2024]

asking for a family member

scan showed growth (ultrasound i think)

sent for MRI after this was found and bloods done etc

if MRI showed something 'serious' how long till you would expect to be contacted?

Thank you

I've always had a follow-up consultation booked a week after the scan when we've gone through the results. Or for some of the post-surgery scans they just ring with the results, but still usually about a week turn around time.

@MiddleAgedDread thank you

I had a follow up appointment booked for a week after the scan but this was private not sure about nhs. I think I'd expect a call within the week if it was something serious

I suspect it depends where it is and what it is as to how long it'll take...

I had a head MRI (nobody was expecting it to show anything) and got called back within hours due to large bleed on my brain, had emergency surgery.

DH had an abdominal MRI which showed something unrelated and life threatening so was also contacted within a few hours.

But presumably if what shows up isn't immediately life threatening (but serious) it might take a few days for them to contact you?

Thank you all for your replies

they do have a follow up app booked in for a week after scan

I would hope and think if it was 'serious' they would be contacted before that

When I had cancer biopsy was a week then MRI a further 2 weeks, told at appointment (NHS). Bad news they normally tell in person at appointment. The MDT meetings are once a week and with cancer they normally go via those and sometimes that makes it 2 weeks rather than one.

It will likely vary with what it is - something needing urgent surgery or life threatening it will be very quick, mine was breast cancer which needed surgeries, chemo, radio etc.

@Penguinsa thank you for your advice

It will depend if timely treatment is important.

I got a call the day after for a repeat mri with contrast (head) and then saw the consultant about 2 days later again arranged by phone where they told me they had found a brain tumour.

The routine mri's I've had as follow up I just receive a letter a few weeks later telling me no change etc.

Depends. Usually MRI’s are given an immediate cursory review to ensure nothing immediately life-threatening/requiring urgent immediate treatment. Problem is people’s definitions are usually very different to healthcare professionals with this🙃.

After the cursory review, they go into the pile for a thorough review and report. If serious but not imminently life-threatening (that week or so) then I’d expect a few days up to a week/10 days.

In my experience they halted the mri immediately as soon as they could see it was a serious problem. So on the table so to speak and told me the gist of it there and then.