Match the scanner to the question
A 1.5T scanner is enough for many joints. Brain, prostate and small liver lesions are often better served by 3T, or by a 1.5T protocol that a specialist has already specified. Ask which machine you will actually lie in, not which machine the group owns at another site.
Who writes the report
- Is a radiologist’s written report included?
- Is a doctor available to explain it, or only a PDF?
- Can you download the DICOM images for your own specialist?
Access and safety
Check waiting time, whether a GP referral is required, and the price of contrast or a second region if it is not in the package. Ask about wide-bore or open scanners if confined spaces are a problem. Confirm they will screen implants before the day, not in the changing room.
A low price with no images to take away is a poor saving if your specialist then repeats the scan.