How Long Does It Take to Get MRI Results?

The scan itself is over the same day, but the wait for results can feel much longer. How long it takes depends less on the MRI machine than on what happens next: a radiologist has to read the images, write a report, and send it to the doctor who ordered the scan, and that doctor then has to share it with you.

This guide explains each step, the typical timelines for routine and emergency scans, why you may see your report in your patient portal before your doctor calls you, how CT results are interpreted, and how to get a copy of your images.

The short answer

For a routine outpatient MRI in the US, the radiologist’s report is usually ready within a few days; Cleveland Clinic says results “can take up to a few days.” In an emergency, the scan is read as quickly as possible, often within hours. In the UK, the NHS says it usually takes 1 to 2 weeks to get MRI results, because results go through the referring doctor.

When you actually hear about your results depends on two things: whether your facility releases reports to a patient portal, and when your doctor reviews them with you. Many people see the written report online before they talk to anyone and can read a radiology report by themselves.

Typical timelines

These are typical ranges, not guarantees. Your imaging center can tell you its own turnaround time, and it is worth asking before you leave. If you are booking a scan yourself, such as a self-pay full-body MRI, ask about turnaround time when comparing prices; see our guide to full-body MRI costs.

What happens after your MRI

Understanding the steps makes the wait easier to read.

1. The images are saved. The scanner sends the images to the facility’s imaging archive (PACS), where they are stored in DICOM format. If you want to know more about that format, see what DICOM is.
2. A radiologist reads the scan. A radiologist is a doctor trained to interpret medical images. The MRI technologist who ran your scan operates the machine but does not interpret the images, which is why the technologist usually cannot tell you what the scan shows.
3. The radiologist compares with earlier scans. If you have had imaging of the same area before, the radiologist will compare the two. Missing prior images can slow this step, so bring outside scans with you or ask your previous imaging center to send them.
4. The radiologist writes the report. It describes what was seen, area by area, and ends with an impression: a short summary of the most important findings and any recommendations, such as follow-up imaging.
5. The report goes to your doctor, and often to you. The report is sent to the provider who ordered the scan. Many health systems also make it available in your patient portal as soon as it is finalized.
6. Your doctor explains the results. Your doctor puts the findings in the context of your symptoms and history, and decides on next steps. This may happen by phone, in a portal message, or at a follow-up appointment.

What can make MRI results take longer

• Urgency. Emergency and inpatient scans are read first. Routine outpatient scans are read in order, so a busy day can add time.
• Complexity. Some scans require a subspecialist, such as a neuroradiologist for a brain MRI or a musculoskeletal radiologist for a joint MRI. Scans for cancer diagnosis, staging, or treatment response may be reviewed by several specialists before results are discussed with you.
• Comparison with earlier scans. If the radiologist needs prior images from another facility, waiting for them can delay the report.
• Who reads the scan and when. Many facilities use radiologists who work remotely, including at night and on weekends. Others have fewer readers outside working hours, so a Friday afternoon scan may be better left until Monday.
• Your follow-up appointment. Even when the report is ready quickly, your doctor may wait to explain it during a scheduled visit, especially if the results inform a treatment decision.
• Additional review. Occasionally, the radiologist recommends additional imaging or requests more clinical information before finalizing the report.

Patient portals: why you might see your report first

In the US, the information blocking rules of the 21st Century Cures Act took effect on April 5, 2021. Since then, many health systems release test results, including imaging reports, to the patient portal (such as MyChart) as soon as they are finalized. Guidance from the federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT says patients may see results in parallel with the clinician who ordered them.

This means you may read your MRI report before your doctor has looked at it. Dartmouth Health, for example, tells patients that results appear “as soon as they are finalized” and that “your provider will contact you for anything that needs follow-up.” A few categories, such as certain genetic tests and some adolescent records, may be held back.

If you read your report first:

• Start with the impression at the end. RadiologyInfo, run by the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America, calls it “the most important part of the radiology report.”
• Expect unfamiliar terms. Reports are written for doctors, and many findings, such as small cysts or age-related changes, are common and harmless.
• Write down your questions for your doctor rather than searching each term. Your doctor knows your symptoms and history, which the report alone does not.

Do bad results come back faster?

Not necessarily. Speed depends mostly on how urgent the scan was and how busy the department is, not on what the scan shows. That said, radiology departments have procedures for unexpected or urgent findings: the radiologist contacts the ordering doctor directly rather than relying only on the written report. The American College of Radiology’s practice parameter on communicating imaging findings covers these nonroutine communications.

So a quick call from your doctor is not a sign of bad news, and a slower one is not a sign of good news. Many doctors call to discuss normal results too.

How long do CT scan results take?

CT results usually come back on a similar or slightly faster timeline than MRI. Cleveland Clinic says it usually takes about 24 to 48 hours to get CT results, and that in emergency settings providers often receive results within an hour. In the UK, the NHS says CT results usually take 1 to 2 weeks, and up to 4 weeks depending on urgency and where you live.

CT is often the first scan in emergencies because it is fast. If you are unsure which scan you had or why, see our guide to MRI vs CT.

How to get a copy of your MRI images

The report is a written summary. The images themselves are separate files, and you have the right to them. Under HIPAA, your right to access your health information covers medical images, and US providers have up to 30 days to respond to a request. If the images are stored electronically, you can ask for an electronic copy, and any fee must be reasonable and cost-based.

Most imaging centers give images on a CD, a USB drive, or a download link. Once you have them:

• To view them at home, follow our guide on how to view an MRI CD, or open the files in the free online DICOM viewer, which runs in your browser with no account and processes files on your computer. It is for personal and educational viewing, not diagnosis.
• To send them to a specialist, see how to share your images with another doctor securely instead of mailing a disc.
• To have another radiologist look at them, see our guide to getting a radiology second opinion.

Keep a copy of every scan. When you have future imaging, earlier scans let the radiologist compare and see what has changed, which can make the new report faster and more useful.

When to follow up

• Ask before you leave. The imaging center can tell you when the report is usually ready and how you will be notified.
• If the time you were given has passed and you have heard nothing, call the office of the doctor who ordered the scan. The NHS advises you to contact your referring doctor if you have not heard back.
• If the report appears in your portal and it worries you, send your doctor a portal message or call the office rather than waiting for a scheduled visit.
• If your symptoms get worse while you wait, do not wait for the results. Contact your doctor, or seek urgent care.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get MRI results?

For a routine outpatient MRI in the US, the radiologist’s report is usually ready within a few days, according to Cleveland Clinic. Emergency scans are read as quickly as possible. In the UK, the NHS says results usually take 1 to 2 weeks. When you hear depends on your patient portal and when your doctor reviews the report with you.

Do MRI results show up in MyChart?

Often, yes. Since the 21st Century Cures Act information blocking rules took effect in 2021, many US health systems release imaging reports to patient portals such as MyChart as soon as they are finalized. You may see the report before your doctor has reviewed it. Some systems hold back a few categories of results.

Do bad MRI results come back right away?

Not necessarily. Timing depends mostly on how urgent the scan was and how busy the department is. When a radiologist sees an urgent or unexpected finding, they contact your doctor directly, but a fast call does not mean bad news, and a slow one does not mean good news.

How quickly will a doctor call with MRI results?

It varies by practice. Some doctors call as soon as they review the report; others discuss results at a scheduled follow-up visit. Ask the ordering doctor’s office how they share results, and call if you have not heard back within the time they gave you.

Can the MRI technologist tell me my results?

Usually not. The technologist operates the scanner, but a radiologist interprets the images and writes the report for the doctor who ordered your scan.

How long do CT scan results take?

Cleveland Clinic says CT results usually take about 24 to 48 hours, and that in emergencies providers often receive results within an hour. In the UK, the NHS says CT results usually take 1 to 2 weeks and can take up to 4 weeks.

Can I see my MRI images myself?

Yes. You have the right to a copy of your images, usually on a CD, USB drive, or via a download link. You can open them with a DICOM viewer, including free browser-based viewers that need no installation. Your doctor or radiologist should still explain what the images show.

This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your doctor. If your symptoms change or worsen while you wait for results, contact your doctor or seek urgent care.

Sources

• How to Read Your Radiology Report, RadiologyInfo.org
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Cleveland Clinic
• CT Scan, Cleveland Clinic
• MRI scan, NHS
• CT scan, NHS
• Test Results and the Cures Act, Dartmouth Health
• ACR offers update on radiology report access under information blocking rules, Health Imaging
• ACR Practice Parameter for Communication of Diagnostic Imaging Findings
• HIPAA guidance on individuals’ right of access, summarized by Crowell & Moring
• How long does it take to get results from an MRI?, Healthline