How to Share CT and MRI Images with a Hospital in China
First ask the department where you will be seen: “Which scans does the doctor need to review? Should I send them in advance or bring them on the day?” Once you know the scan dates, request the images from the hospital that performed them.
Key Points
- Get the complete DICOM images, final report, and any addenda for each scan.
- When comparing two scans, list the body area for each date and identify which scan was before treatment and which was after.
- After submitting images in advance, ask the department to confirm that both scans open. If you have arranged an advance review, also ask when to expect feedback.
First Tell the Receiving Department What You Want the Doctor to Assess
If you want to understand how an abdominal lesion has changed after treatment, provide the treatment start date and the dates of the abdominal CT scans before and after treatment. Ask the doctor to select the scans needed. If the doctor specifically requests arterial-phase images, thin-slice images, or a particular MRI series before surgery, pass the exact request to the original hospital.
Provide your appointment number, hospital campus, and department. Ask whether you can upload the images, share cloud images, or arrange a direct transfer between hospitals. If you need to bring the images, confirm the location and accepted storage media for this appointment. Different campuses may have different image submission desks and accept different media; ask the receiving department to confirm the address, format, and service hours in advance.
How Can You Get Everything You Need from the Original Hospital in One Visit?
Apply to the radiology department or imaging records desk at the hospital that performed the scan. You can write:
Please provide the complete DICOM images for my [body part] [CT/MRI] on [date], including all diagnostic series, the final signed report, and any subsequent addenda, for review by a doctor at another hospital.
Please provide all diagnostic series in DICOM format for my [body part] [CT/MRI] on [date], together with the final radiology report and any addenda, for review at another hospital.
DICOM is the standard hospitals use to exchange medical images. A “series” is a set of images within a scan that lets doctors view images slice by slice, adjust brightness and contrast, and measure lesions. Photos of films and selected images in a report show only part of the scan. If the department agrees to review preview images first, label them “Complete images to follow.”
Match reports to images by date. If a report has been revised, identify the current version. First ask whether the department can read the original documents in their original language. If a translation is needed, include the scan date, translator’s name, and translation date, and attach the original. Medical institutions in China with the necessary capabilities may provide electronic copies under Article 22 of the Standards for the Management of Electronic Medical Record Use (Trial).
How Can You Check That a Disc or Downloaded Package Can Be Viewed?
Ask the records desk to open the actual copy you will take away and check three things on the spot:
- Are the name, date of birth, or patient number correct? Do the body area, scan type, and date match the report? If there were two scans on the same day, also check the times.
- Ask staff to compare the series names, number of series, and image counts with the original system, and to point out the thin-slice images, reconstructions, or functional sequences the doctor requested. Use the original hospital’s records to confirm non-contrast images, contrast-enhanced images, and each phase.
- Open several main series and scroll from the first image to the last. If the report describes a contrast-enhanced scan but the copy contains only non-contrast images, ask staff to resolve this before you leave.
Which Patient Details and Submission Channel Should You Use?
Ask the department where you have booked your appointment for its official submission channel. Use the specified patient number or case number to link the images to your appointment. Confirm the format, file size limit, where to submit the report, deadline, and technical contact. If a ZIP file is required, keep the original folders and file names, compress the entire package, and label the outer package with the date and body area. If the disc contains someone else’s images or scans the department has not requested, ask the original hospital to export only the requested scans. Test that the package unzips before uploading. After uploading, record the receipt number and time, and keep the originals.
Who to Contact When You Run into a Problem
| Problem | What to do next |
|---|---|
| The ZIP file exceeds the size limit | Tell the receiving hospital the file size and ask for a large-file submission channel, or ask whether the hospitals can transfer the images directly or you can bring them on the day. If you already have separate, complete packages, you may submit them separately with permission. If a single package exceeds the limit, contact technical staff; do not delete images or reduce image quality. |
| The upload invitation has expired | Give the receiving department your appointment date and ask it to issue a new invitation and confirm how long it will remain valid. |
| You can view the images, but the hospital cannot import them | Ask whether the receiving hospital sees an empty folder, a read error, or preview images. If you sent only the viewer, send the complete package. If it still fails, give the error message and scan date to the original hospital. Ask imaging staff at both hospitals to check the format before exporting it again. |
After Receiving a Submission Receipt, How Can You Tell Whether the Doctor Has Reviewed the Images?
Give the receipt number and ask: “Are the images and reports from [date A] and [date B] both linked to my appointment record? Can the doctor open both scans and see the requested series?” If the images must be imported into the system, confirm that this has been done. If the agreed method is a link, confirming that the team can open it is enough.
If the images will be reviewed during your outpatient appointment, ask what else you need to bring. If you have arranged an advance review or formal consultation, ask who is responsible, whether both scans have been reviewed, when you will receive a response, and where to collect the written opinion. If you need to take the report back to the original hospital, say so in advance and confirm how the doctor responsible for your ongoing treatment will receive the results. Leave a working phone number. If you are outside China, include your country code and time zone so the hospital can contact you about urgent findings.
Frequently Asked Questions
The disc has a DICOMDIR file. Can I copy just that file?
DICOMDIR is an index; the images are in subfolders. Copy the entire exported folder. If you cannot find the index, ask the original hospital to demonstrate how to load this scan.
I only have a QR code or cloud link. How can a doctor at another hospital view the images?
First check whether you can switch between series and scroll through the images slice by slice. If you can only view the report or must log in personally, ask the original hospital to enable sharing with another hospital or export the complete images. Check that the link will remain valid through the review date. If it expires, ask the original hospital to extend it. Do not forward passwords or verification codes, or post them in public group chats.
The name on my appointment differs from the name on the images. Can I change it myself?
If an old surname differs from your current surname on your passport, use an official channel to provide your appointment number, scan date, and both names, and ask the hospital to verify them. If the images show someone else’s name or number, stop sending them and ask the original hospital to investigate.
What if a family member submits the images, or the recipient requests anonymization?
Medical and health information is sensitive personal information. A family member should first confirm the patient’s authorization and submit the information only to the designated recipient. Names and patient numbers may appear inside files or on the images. If research, teaching, or a blinded re-review explicitly requires anonymization, ask the recipient to provide the rules. Have designated staff process a copy and check that the scans before and after treatment can still be matched. Keep the originals for clinical care.
The hospital can find only one scan, or a series is missing. What should I resend?
Ask the receiving desk to check the submission, import, and medical record linkage records using your appointment number and scan dates. Once missing images are confirmed, ask the original hospital to check the body area and series. If images were left out of the export, clearly state which series you are adding or which previous package you are replacing. After resubmitting, ask the recipient to check again. If the images were never acquired, the receiving doctor should decide whether the existing images are sufficient.
Who should I ask about fees for copying images and issuing a second-read report?
Ask the original hospital about copying fees, whom to pay, and when to collect the images. If you need the receiving hospital to issue a formal second-read report, separately ask before arranging it whether there is a fee, whom to pay, and when to collect the report.
Could the doctor still ask me to repeat the scan in China?
Yes. First ask whether the images were not fully transferred or the original scan did not capture what the doctor needs to see. For an incomplete transfer, send the missing images first. If the original scan lacks the necessary information, ask the doctor about the purpose of the additional scan. Mutual recognition of examination results in Shanghai is subject to limits on geographic coverage, eligible examinations, and quality. The receiving doctor will decide whether images from outside China are sufficient based on image quality, when the scan was performed, and your condition.
What should I do if I suddenly become seriously unwell while waiting for a response?
If you develop signs of an emergency, such as severe difficulty breathing or sudden weakness on one side of the body, contact local emergency services immediately. Tell the medical staff treating you about your known medical history and the dates of your imaging examinations. Do not wait for the image review response. UK NHS emergency advice on shortness of breath · US CDC information on stroke signs and symptoms
Sources
- For requesting images, comparing previous scans, and digital image quality, see the radiology societies’ patient guide, Shanghai Quality Control Standards for Digital Medical Imaging Services, and Shanghai Notice on Mutual Recognition of Examination and Laboratory Test Results.
- For image files and identity data, see the DICOM Media Directory, DICOM De-identification, and Pixel Data Cleaning.
- For the legal and regulatory basis for institutions in China to provide electronic copies of images and protect health information, see Articles 21 and 22 of the Standards for the Management of Electronic Medical Record Use (Trial) and Article 28 of the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China.