MRI scan on the knee

[notasmartassknowitallfarag]

Can a MRI be read at any hospital if I get it on a cd? I would like to get it done at a cheaper hospital, but get the results examined at BKK hospital sports department.

Sukhumvit cost 9800

BKK Christian 8500

BKK hospital 17000

I think it may be pattellar tendoinitis, as I had that in my other knee previously. Would a normal MRI suffice or would I need a contrast MRI which is more expensive?

 

Thanks on advance for any help with this.

[orchidlady]

Most orthopedists are used to reviewing MRIs of their patients. They will not write a report for you. The place you get the mri will give you a report. Most of the reports written here are not of the same quality as back in the west from my experience.  MRI Thailand  (find it online) can do one for about 6500 or 7000 baht as long as no contrast neede.

[notasmartassknowitallfarag]

I have been a patient in BKK hospital for it before, so i'm hoping he would read the results anyway. He is a specalist on sports injury, hence why I wanted him to view it. Any idea if I need contrast for my specific case? No swelling, just a long term on and off injury. 

[Mister Fixit]

Try Prachacheun MRI near Chatuchak Park.  I had one done there about 15 years ago. Very good, wrote a report for me which I took back to Bumrungrad and saved about 5,000 baht too.

 

 

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, orchidlady said:

Most orthopedists are used to reviewing MRIs of their patients. They will not write a report for you. The place you get the mri will give you a report. Most of the reports written here are not of the same quality as back in the west from my experience. 

 

As above - the reports you get from the radiologist are pretty worthless and even when the MRI was done in the same hospital, the ortho doc will ignore the report and read the scan himself.

 

It is no problem to bring in a scan on CD from somewhere else but you have ot consider if it will have been done to the right specifications and there is no way to know what those are for a knee injury without seeing the ortho first.  Whether or not contrast media is needed depends on the suspected diagnosis.  It is also quite possible that no MRI is needed; many knee problems can be reasonably diagnosed and managed without - including tendonititis.  It is  a waste of money to get an MRI for tendonitis unless there is serious suspicion the pain had another cause.

 

So see doctor first. If he recommends MRI, find out any details and whether contrast needed etc. The doctor will not be at all surprised if you tell him you want to f=do the MRI at an outside imaging center, very common.

 

But I recommend against having MRI with contrast media done in an imaging center.A small number of people have severe, even life0-threatening adverse reactions and in tat case immediate life support must be on hand. Thailand is not like the West in terms of preparedness for things like this in outpatient settings.

 

 

[notasmartassknowitallfarag]

6 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It is also quite possible that no MRI is needed; many knee problems can be reasonably diagnosed and managed without - including tendonititis.  It is  a waste of money to get an MRI for tendonitis

 

Thanks Sheryl, I agree, however I have had this issue on and off for over 2 years. I gave up sports, tried hip strengthening exercises, but it can still, after all this time,  suddenly appear

 and then disappear for no apparent reason. 

[Sheryl]

24 minutes ago, notasmartassknowitallfarag said:

 

Thanks Sheryl, I agree, however I have had this issue on and off for over 2 years. I gave up sports, tried hip strengthening exercises, but it can still, after all this time,  suddenly appear

 and then disappear for no apparent reason. 

Still need to consult specialist first before getting an MRI or risk wasting your time on money on a scan that either was not needed or needed to be done under different parameters - everything depends on the differential diagnosis