If you’ve had any kind of medical scan, have you been shown the images?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

Random thought of the night while I can’t sleep.

Back in 2017 I had a CT scan and told I had shingles, in 2021 I had an Xray and told I have arthritis, in 2022 I had an MRI and told I had a slipped disc. I was never shown the images from any of these scans! Same with my mum, back in 2023 she was diagnosed with cancer but I don’t believe she was shown the images either, and neither were we when they told us they’d done more scans which showed it was rapidly progressing.

The only scans I’ve had that I’ve seen the images of are my pregnancies.

Why were we never shown the images? Is that normal practice? I’d like to see them, especially with my back problem, I’d like a visual so I can understand it better. Would my GP have the images on file or are they just sent the final reports by radiology?

I don’t think they show you unless you ask. I’ve seen X-ray of my broken arm and MRI scan of my friends brain tumour. We asked to see both

Yes. I had an MRI scan on my back and was shown the images and they were fully explained too.

GPs don't usually have access to the images, just the reports. I think within hospital it's more common to show people their images, with some variation between specialities. When DS broke his leg, the consultant had his x-rays up on his computer in the clinic room.

Yes. I saw x ray images pre and post hip replacement!

I’ve seen MRI scans of my ear bones it was really interesting

I live in France. We are sent our images through the post for mammograms etc.
Dh had an MRI and was given the disc with the scan on.

Years ago in the UK I had a private MRI and was given the images after they were explained to me.

I was sent home with the images of my fibroids

I had an echo cardiogram last week. Couldn't see the screen. No information at all. However I know it was done by a technician and a cardiologist will interpret the images. The technician have an idea but not the authority to tell you anything. Same goes for most medical imagining. Also, there isn't time, especially as so many people are so anxious. Technicians/ radiographers won't have the level of knowledge required to answer questions beyond the immediate images.

I've seen all my scans but I always ask.

Yes, I had a brain MRI last August and the neurologist showed me the scan and talked about the results with me.

Yes seen X-rays and my mri before it was even sent off to be looked at.

X rays are very different visually from ‘scans’ . An amateur can see the break in an arm bone, as it is literally a two dimensional image like a black and white photograph.

Ultra sound scans are more sophisticated, but still just about possible for the scannee to ‘read’ with professional guidance. MRI etc are far more difficult because they are ( as I understand it) hundreds or even thousand of images overlaid on each other. Even top surgeons and oncologists prefer the consultant radiologist to interpret such scans . Most lay people would ‘see’ an incomprehensible mass of images.

That’s my take on it from personal experience, anyway. Perhaps someone more qualified can explain it better .

It can be a bit unsettling. DS2 had to have an ultrasound for suspected appendicitis last week and the sight of his spine made me feel all queasy 😬

I don't mind seeing my own innards so much! I got to see the egg bearing cyst on my ovary that became DS2 10 years ago!! (total coincidence, I just happened to have a trans vaginal ultrasound on that day).

I had an x ray for swallowing issues, they explained the images very well.

I once had a scan in nuclear medicine where they scanned my entire skeleton and I could see it on a screen as they scanned it. I've always been able to see the screen in ultrasounds as well. So I've seen most of my internal organs and my skeleton.

Yes and my neurologist asked if I wanted to take pictures too.

Was fascinating

Not a scan but a camera procedure, and I don't remember this as I was sedated, but apparently was quite conversational during a colonoscopy, and asked for pictures of my colon to take home from the hospital. Which they kindly provided, and I have still.

Ime it depends on if you are able to see the images in real time, in which case I usually have been shown them and had them explained. Or if they're something like a CT or MRI where the person seeing the images is in a different room. Sometimes at a later appt about whatever the scan has shown the consultant has shown me the images and explained them, sometimes just told me the findings. It usually depends on how much interest I show in the detail of what's been seen and what it means I think.

No. Last time I asked and was told quite firmly that she ‘had been college to learn this but wasn’t going to discuss the scan with me’

rude. And nope the only scans I’ve ever been shown are the pregnancy ones

I’ve seen X-ray images of broken bones and I saw my chest X-ray once.
I never saw the images from my CT scan though.

This. I had an MRI yesterday and the radiographer explained that she can't tell me anything about what she sees. It takes a radiologist to interpret the results. She said radiologists are medical doctors with over 10 years additional training in interpreting the images and making diagnoses.

MRI images etc would likely need to be explained by a medical professional to fully understand the . Whether your shown them or not probably depends on how the consultant is at giving good info to patients and should really be best practice but probably often isn't. You can always ask to see them in a consultant appointment if possible. You can also request your hospital records - look on your hospital website and there should be a way for you to make the request but it will probably only have a brief summary interpretation.

I saw my mum's CT scan of her lung cancer and my DD's MRI of her brain tumor.

Both were with the oncologist. They must be on her GP records but never asked/been offered.

I was present when my dh had an ultrasound for testicular cancer, the sonographer showed us the difference between the good side and the cancerous one.

I don't recall being shown any images from any of my MRIs or CT scan but I've usually been shown x rays and always seen ultrasounds. Also watched the inside of my urinary system on the screen during a cystoscopy.

There's a section for scans and stuff in my online health records but nothing ever gets put there.

Yes I had an echocardiogram and told the doctor I was very nervous. He let me know there was nothing to worry about after the scan, swung the screen to me to show me my heart beating away somewhat rapidly!