How long is too long to leave someone waiting for test results?

Question

My son had an MRI friday morning to check for possible regrowth of a brain tumor. Here it is after hours on monday and we still do not know the results. We called the Dr office twice today, once we were told they hadn't scanned results for the doctor to review yet and later we were told we should be contacted at the end of the day. The first time we found the tumor in 1998, my GP was on the phone with me before my son even left the MRI,,,, that was in Connecticut. We know live in Kansas,,, am I wrong in thinking that this is ridiculous, leaving someone dangling on something so important? I'd welcome the medical professions opinion on this too.

Answer 1

I am not sure what protocols that the imaging center in Kansas follows, BUT where I work (in California), if we find something abnormal on a MRI or CT or Ultrasound scan, our radiologist will call the referring MD within 30 minutes to an hour. If your son had been to my facility for his MRI, and it was normal, the referring MD would have received the results by Monday morning. If it was abnormal (say tumor regrowth), the referring MD would have known on Friday. I agree that is is very unfair and stressful to wait for results of imaging tests. I would also say that there is no way a radiologist can call every referring MD after every exam to give normal results. They would be on the phone all day! Another idea, try not to schedule exams on a Friday or even a Thursday, if you can help it. The weekend seems very long when you are awaiting results. Good luck to your son and your family. I am thinking the MRI was normal.....

Answer 2

I agree with you. I have had cancer and I have had a few scares since then. When I had the cancer the first time they told me right after they did the test. There was no waiting. As a matter of fact I went in for a well check 6 weeks after having my third daughter and the OBGYN thought there was a problem and he walked me across the street to an oncologists office and they did the tests that day and told me the diagnosis. Every time I have had the disease or a scare they have been right there to tell me. Even this past October they thought that I had cancer again and told me if it was back I would only have a few months. When they ran the tests I had to be put under but the surgeon was waiting by my bed along with my husband in the recovery room to tell me that it wasn't cancer.

So like you I do not understand why you have not received an answer yet and I would call the doctor right now after hours and ask. Tell him that you and your son are not sleeping at night and you have to know.

You know there is one time that I had to wait for a lab result and it took the doctor so long to contact me that I changed doctors right away. That was when they had removed a large mass and a tumor. As soon as I did get the results from the doctor I changed doctors. I will not be put off about something so important and neither should your family.

Answer 3

I totally agree with you!
I have often wondered why it takes so long for results and I have been told that it's because the labs are so over loaded with test and at other times it's because the test it self takes a long time to produce results. Same thing with the doctors, they are back logged with tests to review.