Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will my doctor get my report?

If your doctor works out of Sunnybrook, once reported, your file can be accessed immediately via the internal electronic patient record. External doctors will receive the report in five to seven business days.

Can I drive after the exam?

It depends on the type of examination you've had. You can drive soon after most medical imaging examinations (i.e. plain x-rays, diagnostic ultrasound and neuro-Doppler, MRI, CT and nuclear medicine).
However there are certain examinations where radiologists perform surgical procedures (i.e. angiograms and myelograms or when you are given some medication that may make you drowsy for a while). In these cases, not only you are instructed to refrain from driving, but you will only be discharged to a responsible adult who will accompany you home.

Can I go back to work?

Most diagnostic examinations will not compromise your ability to go back to work. Exceptions include those examinations that require special after-care (i.e. biopsies, invasive procedures, angiograms, myelograms and lumbar punctures). Please ask for clear after-care instruction from our radiologists, nurses and technologists; these care-providers are happy to answer your concerns and questions.

Will you put me to sleep or give me a sedative?

Most examinations do not require sedation. Unless deemed necessary by our radiologists who are physicians, and agreed to by you, no sedation is given. Common examples where sedation may be given include angiograms and interventional procedures. Claustrophobic patients undergoing MRI examinations may also consider sedation.

How long will the test take?

Depending on the type of test, examination times vary significantly.

• Plain x-rays of a single area, where two to three images are required, take about 10 minutes.
• A skeletal survey takes approximately 30 minutes.
• A typical diagnostic ultrasound takes about 15 minutes to complete, whereas a detail high-risk pregnancy ultrasound may take up to 45 minutes.
• A typical MRI examination takes about an hour and a half which includes a patient interview and preparation. 
• A neuro-Doppler examination usually takes about 30-45 minutes Nuclear medicine examinations usually involve initial injections and delay images are usually required.

For a bone scan, a patient receives the injection and will be asked to return two to three hours later for a 30-minute delay imaging.

A gallium total body scan will typically require a patient to return after four hours and up to 48 hours after the initial injections.

A patient coming for a small bowel series requires x-rays after taking the barium drink at certain pre-set time intervals. The process time varies from an hour and a half to even more than four hours because the rate of movement of the dye through the bowel is different from person to person. . 

 

I was here before other people, and they were called in before I was. Why?

If examinations are pre-scheduled by appointment, the priority of patients is determined by appointment time (provided patients arrive on time). If patients are on a walk-in basis, then the priority is determined by the time of patient arrival.

However some examinations must be performed in specific rooms using dedicated equipment; this may cause unavoidable delays for some patients, while causing it to appear as though some patients are being seen before others who've arrived earlier.

There are many types of tests going on within each department that take variable amounts of time; therefore someone who comes after you may be taken before you depending on the scan they're having.

Can my friend/relative come in the room with me?

Not unless it's absolutely necessary (for example, if you require an interpreter to be present). This policy is established to protect the public, patient and staff from any hazards that may be associated with the use of examination equipment. Please ask our medical imaging staff for clarification.