MRI Second Opinion

MRI second opinion in the UK, from a specialist MSK radiologist

If you have had an MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound scan and you are not sure the report is right, an independent second opinion from a consultant musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologist can help clarify what your scan shows and what to do next. At LSRI, we review the images themselves, not just the report, and we start by hearing your story, because understanding the person as well as the pictures helps us give a more useful answer. Whether your scan was done in the NHS or privately, in London, elsewhere in the UK, or overseas, you can send us your images securely. An MRI second opinion starts from £145, including a specialist written report and a consultation to talk it through.

When a second opinion makes sense

• Your symptoms do not match what your report says, or have not improved as expected.
• You are facing surgery, an injection or a long time off work or sport because of a scan result.
• Your report is unclear, or two reports disagree.
• A lump, bone lesion or possible tumour has been found.
• Your scan matters for an insurance claim, an employment decision or a legal case.

A second opinion should not delay urgent care. If a possible tumour has been found, keep any appointments your specialist team has arranged and tell them you are seeking a second opinion. If you have new weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe pain after an injury, call 999 or go to A&E.

Why scan reports sometimes get it wrong

Radiologists are highly trained, but reading scans is difficult. In everyday practice, the error rate is estimated at around 3 to 5% of scans reported, and most errors are perceptual: the abnormality is on the images but is not seen.¹ UK reporting standards warn that interpretation “may be incorrect if referral details are deficient, absent or misleading”.² In one study, a short conversation between the radiologist and the patient led to changes in 42.6% of MRI reports, nearly always because clinical information had been missing.³

Who reads the scan matters too. When specialist MSK radiologists review scans first reported elsewhere, studies have found clinically significant differences in between 1.4% and 27.9% of cases, most often in complex cases and tumours.⁴ Many second opinions confirm the original report, which is reassuring in itself. In complex cases, a specialist second look changes the picture surprisingly often.

What an LSRI second opinion includes

Who will review your scan

Second opinions at LSRI are provided by Dr Prashant Sankaye, Consultant MSK Radiologist and Clinical Director of LSRI. His experience includes:

• Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR), with more than 20 years’ clinical experience.
• Former Head of Specialty at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where his responsibilities included handling complaints and reviewing reporting discrepancies.
• Former Expert Advisor to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, giving expert radiology advice on complaints about NHS care.
• Second and tertiary opinions on complex and disputed musculoskeletal imaging.
• Independent arbitration in disputes about radiology reports.
• Independent medicolegal expert in musculoskeletal imaging, and runs CPD-accredited training for clinicians.

“Through second opinions and case reviews, I have seen how findings can be missed and why. No radiologist can promise never to miss anything. But taking time to understand the patient and reading the scan as a specialist gives us the best chance of getting it right.”

Dr Prashant Sankaye, Consultant MSK Radiologist

What our patients say

These are recent reviews from LSRI patients, quoted from Google and Trustindex.

For clinicians, solicitors and insurers

We provide independent specialist opinions for GPs, physiotherapists, surgeons and other clinicians, and for solicitors, insurers and organisations that need an expert view on musculoskeletal imaging, including disputed reports. For expert witness reports, see our medicolegal services.

How to get a second opinion

1. Get in touch. Call 0203 633 5040 or book online, and tell us briefly what your scan was for.
2. Send your images and reports. Ask the hospital or clinic where you were scanned for a copy of your images (usually by secure link, CD or USB) and the report. Include any previous scans and clinic letters if you have them.
3. Tell us your story. We take your history so that we know exactly what question the scan needs to answer.
4. Expert review and written report. Most second opinion reviews are completed within 5 to 7 working days, and expedited reviews are available if you need the result sooner.
5. Talk it through. Discuss the findings with the radiologist and ask any questions. With your permission, we send the report to your GP, consultant or physiotherapist.

Further reading

• Can an MRI miss something? Why findings get missed, and how to reduce the risk
• The radiology consultation: why our radiologist talks to you first
• Who reports your MRI matters: MSK radiologists, protocols and second opinions
• Think a radiologist missed something on your scan? How fair review works
• Is a cheap MRI scan worth it?

Sources

1. Brady AP. Error and discrepancy in radiology: inevitable or avoidable? Insights into Imaging 2017;8(1):171–182. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0534-1
2. The Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for interpretation and reporting of imaging investigations, third edition. October 2025. rcr.ac.uk
3. Gutzeit A, Sartoretti E, Reisinger C, et al. Direct communication between radiologists and patients improves the quality of imaging reports. European Radiology 2021;31(11):8725–8732. doi:10.1007/s00330-021-07933-7
4. Patel A, Isaac A. The clinical value of second-opinion reporting by subspecialist musculoskeletal radiologists. European Journal of Radiology 2025;190:112262. doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112262