Also check old reports. If the indication for a study is unclear, contact the ordering physician. Speak with the referring physician. The patient currently undergoing scanning may have to be taken off the table to accommodate these urgent patients. Again, speak with the referring physician.
Some patients are more urgent than others.
Post operative scans on tumor patients should be obtained within 48 hours of operation. Enhancement up to this point should represent residual tumor. After this, scar develops and the differentiation between residual tumor and scar may be difficult. If a referring physician requests gado, please give it. They may have more history than they wrote down on the requisition.