Short answer: Scans such as CT, MRI and X-rays are stored as DICOM files, the international standard for medical images. Under the GDPR in Europe, the UK GDPR and HIPAA in the US you can ask for a copy of your images, not only the written report. Hospitals usually provide them on a CD or USB stick, or as a download link, and you can open them with a free DICOM viewer.
At a glance
| DICOM | The international standard for medical images |
|---|---|
| Your right | A copy of the images, not only the report: GDPR, UK GDPR, HIPAA |
| How to ask | The hospital's radiology or records department, in writing, with the date of the scan |
| What you receive | A CD or USB stick, or a download link, usually with a viewer |
| Opening the files | A free DICOM viewer on computer or phone |
| Keeping them | Images with the report and the date, so another radiologist can compare |
How to ask
Write to the imaging department or the hospital's records office with your name, date of birth, the date and type of scan, and say you want the images in DICOM format and the report. In the EU and UK the first copy is usually free and due within one month; in the US, within 30 days, possibly for a reasonable fee. Our guide on transferring medical records has more on these rights.
What you receive and how to open it
A disc or folder usually contains a DICOMDIR index file, folders of images (often without file extensions), and sometimes a built-in viewer. On a computer, free DICOM viewers open the DICOMDIR and show each series (for example different sequences of an MRI). A CT or MRI may have hundreds or thousands of images; that is normal.
Viewing is not interpreting: radiologists read images with training, full history and calibrated displays. The value of keeping images is that the next radiologist can compare. See DICOM vs FHIR for how images and records relate.
In Anpheros
In Anpheros you keep the radiology report in each person's record, linked to the appointment; our guide on MRI results and the CT report page explain the reports. Keep the disc or the download in a safe place, and note in the record where it is, so you can bring it to the next scan.
Related pages
- CT scan report explained
- EHR vs EMR vs PHR
- DICOMweb explained
- PACS vs RIS vs VNA
- DICOM tags explained
- FHIR ImagingStudy vs DICOMweb
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a copy of my MRI images?
Yes. You can ask the hospital for your images in DICOM format and the report; in the EU and UK the first copy is usually free.
What is a DICOMDIR file?
An index file that tells a DICOM viewer which images are on the disc and how they are grouped.
How do I open DICOM files?
With a DICOM viewer; free viewers exist for Windows, macOS and the browser. Many discs include one.
Why keep the images and not just the report?
Because a radiologist comparing a new scan with an old one needs the images, not only the words.
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