What to Expect at Your Radiology Appointment

What happens during a radiology appointment

A radiology appointment is when a technician uses imaging equipment — X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI — to take pictures inside your body so a radiologist can look for injury, disease, or abnormality. You'll change into a hospital gown or keep your clothes on depending on what's being imaged, lie or sit still while the machine does its work, and then leave. The radiologist reviews the images later and sends a report to your doctor, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

The appointment itself is painless. You won't feel the X-rays or CT radiation, and MRI machines are loud but harmless. The hardest part is usually staying still for the time it takes — anywhere from a few minutes for an X-ray to 30 or 45 minutes for an MRI. A technician will be in the room or nearby the whole time and can hear you if you need to speak.

Key Takeaways

• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early with your insurance card and photo ID, and bring any previous imaging from other facilities if your doctor hasn't already sent it.
• Remove all metal objects — jewelry, watches, phones, underwire bras, hearing aids — before the scan, because metal interferes with the image or can heat up during MRI.
• Tell the technician if you are pregnant, have metal implants, are claustrophobic, or cannot lie flat, because these change how the scan is done or whether it can be done at all.
• You can usually eat and drink normally before an appointment unless your doctor says otherwise, but some scans require you to fast or drink contrast liquid beforehand.
• The radiologist's report goes to your doctor, not directly to you, so ask your doctor's office when and how you'll hear the results.

What to bring and how to prepare

Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, and any paperwork your doctor's office gave you — usually an order form that says what part of your body needs imaging and why. If you've had imaging done elsewhere in the past year or two, ask your doctor's office to send those images to the radiology facility ahead of time. Radiologists compare new images to old ones to spot changes, so having them on file saves time.

Wear comfortable, loose clothing with no metal fasteners. Metal zippers, snaps, and underwire bras can show up on the image or, in an MRI, heat up and cause burns. Remove your watch, rings, earrings, necklace, and any body piercings. If you wear a hearing aid or have a pacemaker, tell the technician before you enter the scanning room — some devices aren't safe in an MRI.

Check with your doctor about whether you need to fast. Most X-rays and CT scans don't require fasting, but some abdominal CT scans or ultrasounds do. If your scan uses contrast — a liquid you drink or that's injected — the facility will tell you about timing and any dietary limits when you schedule. Contrast helps certain structures show up more clearly on the image.

Metal implants and medical devices

If you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, metal joint replacement, metal pins or plates from surgery, or shrapnel, tell the technician before the scan. Some metal is safe in an MRI and some isn't. Titanium implants are usually fine; older steel implants may not be. The facility has a metal screening form you'll fill out, and the technician will ask detailed questions about any surgery or injury you've had.

If you're unsure whether your implant is MRI-safe, bring the paperwork from your surgery or the device itself — many implants come with a card that lists the material. If the facility can't confirm it's safe, they may do an X-ray instead of an MRI, or they may need to contact your surgeon for documentation. This takes extra time, so mention it when you schedule if you know you have an implant.

Pregnancy and contrast dye

Tell the technician if you are pregnant or think you might be. X-rays and CT scans use radiation, which can harm a developing fetus, especially in the first trimester. Your doctor may decide to postpone the scan, use ultrasound instead, or go ahead if the benefit outweighs the risk — that's your doctor's call, not the radiology facility's. MRI is generally considered safer in pregnancy and doesn't use radiation.

If your scan uses contrast dye, mention any allergies — especially to iodine or shellfish, because some contrast contains iodine. Tell the technician if you have kidney disease or take metformin, because contrast can affect kidney function. The facility will ask about these things on your intake form, but speaking up directly gives you a chance to explain your history in your own words.

What to expect in the scanning room

For an X-ray, you'll stand or lie on a table while the technician positions the machine over the area being imaged. You'll be asked to hold still and take a breath and hold it for a second or two while the image is taken. The whole appointment takes 10 to 20 minutes, most of it spent positioning and checking the image quality.

For an ultrasound, you'll lie on a table and the technician will apply a clear, cool gel to your skin and move a handheld probe over the area. The gel helps the sound waves travel. You'll feel pressure but no pain. Ultrasound takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on what's being looked at.

For a CT scan, you'll lie on a table that slides into a large, doughnut-shaped machine. The machine rotates around you taking many images from different angles. You'll hear whirring and clicking. The technician may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds at a time. A CT scan usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.

For an MRI, you'll lie on a table that slides into a long, narrow tube. The machine is very loud — you'll hear banging and beeping — and some people find it claustrophobic. You must stay completely still for 20 to 45 minutes. The facility will give you a call button you can press if you need to stop, and they can hear you through a speaker. Tell the technician before the scan if you're anxious about enclosed spaces; they can sometimes play music, give you a blanket, or use a shorter, wider machine.

After your scan and getting results

Once the scan is done, you can get dressed and leave. There are no side effects from X-rays, CT scans, or MRI. If you had contrast injected, drink plenty of water for the next 24 hours to help your kidneys clear it. You can eat, drive, and do normal activities right away.

The radiologist will review your images and write a report, usually within one business day. The report goes to your doctor, not to you directly. Your doctor's office will call you with results or ask you to come in for a follow-up appointment to discuss what the images show and what happens next. If you haven't heard anything after two or three days, call your doctor's office and ask when the report came in and when you can expect to hear about it.

If the scan shows something that needs urgent attention, the radiologist may call your doctor right away, and your doctor will contact you the same day. Don't assume no news is good news — follow up with your doctor's office if you're waiting.

Common reasons scans are delayed or rescheduled

If you arrive late, the facility may not have time to complete your scan and will reschedule you. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. If you didn't follow fasting instructions or didn't remove metal, the technician may ask you to reschedule so the images are clear. If you're pregnant and didn't mention it, the facility will stop and contact your doctor.

If the facility discovers you have a metal implant that isn't MRI-safe, they'll switch you to a different type of scan or ask you to get documentation from your surgeon. This can add 30 minutes to an hour to your appointment. If you're very claustrophobic in an MRI, the technician may pause and let you out, or they may recommend a different facility with an open or wide-bore machine.

Weather, equipment malfunction, and emergency cases ahead of you can also cause delays. If you're running late, call the facility as soon as you know — they may be able to fit you in later that day or reschedule you quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need someone to drive me home after a radiology appointment?

No. X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI don't require sedation and don't affect your ability to drive or work. You can drive yourself home immediately. The only exception is if your doctor ordered sedation for anxiety, which is rare — in that case, you'll be told ahead of time and asked to arrange a ride.

What if I'm claustrophobic and can't do an MRI?

Tell your doctor and the radiology facility before your appointment. Some facilities have open MRI machines or wide-bore machines that feel less enclosed. Your doctor may also order a CT scan instead, which is faster and less confining. In rare cases, the facility can give you anti-anxiety medication, but you'd need to arrange a ride home.

How long does it take to get results?

The radiologist usually completes the report within 24 hours, but your doctor's office may take another day or two to review it and contact you. Call your doctor's office after two business days if you haven't heard anything. If the scan shows something urgent, your doctor will call you the same day.

Can I eat before my appointment?

For most X-rays, CT scans, and MRI, you can eat normally. Some abdominal ultrasounds and CT scans require fasting for six to eight hours beforehand so the images are clear. Your doctor's office will tell you when you schedule if fasting is needed. If you're unsure, call and ask.

What if I'm allergic to contrast dye?

Tell your doctor and the radiology facility before your appointment. If you've had a reaction to contrast before, your doctor may order a different type of imaging or give you medication to take beforehand to reduce the risk of a reaction. Don't skip mentioning it — the facility needs to know to prepare.