[2cool4U]

A Radiologist's interpretation is influenced by the amount and quality of information available at the time the images are reviewed. Rarely do we get enough info from the patient or the ordering physician. Typically for a lumbar MRI we get "back pain." Pretty much could've figured that out on my own, since we usually don't do them for headaches or nausea.

A complete explanation of the exact nature and location of the pain as well as any radiation pattern (down the leg, around the waist, through to the abdomen, etc), length of the symptoms, any directly related injury to the back, prior surgeries, and whole lot of other info will really help the Radiologist focus on specific abnormalities or their absence.

We are the punching bag of the medical world, but every Radiologist I know produces quality work with very little info in a timely fashion sometimes under urgent or emergent conditions.

Annapurna, it's a shame you had bad experiences, but the majority of Radiologists in this country are quality physicians. Residency positions are in high demand, and typically people near the top of their class in medical school get accepted. This has been true for 20 yrs and continues today. There is a critical shortage of Radiologists in this country, and volume continues to increase as more patients get unnecessary examinations. Two statistics to keep in mind; #1 more than half of medical imaging studies done in this country are never seen by a Radiologist, they are done in a physician's office and looked at by that physician, usually to supplement their practice revenue and #2 various studies estimate that 25-35% of imaging studies are medically unnecessary and don't change patient care but are done for medical-legal reasons, because the patient expects it, or because the primary physician is uncomfortable treating an obvious clinical diagnosis until the films prove it.

Everyone loves to criticize Radiologists until they need one. A hospital can function w/o cardiologists or w/o oncologists for example, but remove radiology and Radiologists and you have no hospital.

There's my rant. Not meant as defensive, just informative. No anger intended or implied. Seriously.

Tim