For many second opinions, the written radiology report is not enough. The specialist may need to review the original CT, MRI, PET or other imaging study. German university departments commonly ask patients to provide the actual image data in digital form together with the written report. The safest workflow is to ask the receiving hospital which upload or transfer method it currently accepts before sending sensitive medical data.
Send the original image study, not screenshots
DICOM is the standard format used by radiology systems. A complete DICOM study preserves the image series and technical information needed for clinical review. Phone photos, screenshots or a few exported JPEG images may omit important slices or sequences and should not replace the original study unless the hospital specifically asks for them.
- CT / CTA
- MRI / MRA
- PET or PET/CT
- Nuclear-medicine studies
- Angiography
- Relevant ultrasound images when exported by the imaging center
Include the written radiology report as a separate document
The image data and the radiologist's report answer different questions. Send both when available. Heidelberg's urology second-opinion checklist, for example, asks for imaging such as CT, MRI, scintigraphy or PET together with the written findings.
Ask the hospital which transfer method it accepts
Hospitals and departments use different technical workflows. Some accept secure uploads or image-sharing links, while others may still request CD/DVD or another defined medium. Follow the current instructions of the receiving department rather than assuming ordinary email or a consumer file-sharing service is acceptable.
Do not discard the original copy
Keep your own complete copy of every study. If a physical disc is requested, send a copy rather than your only original. Heidelberg's second-opinion guidance explicitly advises patients to send copies of records rather than originals.
Build a simple imaging index for complex cases
If several studies exist, provide a short list so the specialist can understand the chronology.
- Date of study
- Modality and body region
- Hospital or imaging center
- Reason for the study
- Whether it was before or after surgery/treatment
- Corresponding written report filename
For oncology, include older scans when comparison matters
Tumor response, progression and surgical planning often depend on change over time. A current scan without earlier comparison imaging may not answer the clinical question. Ask the specialist which prior studies are relevant before sending a large archive.
Official sources
Last source-reviewed 2026-08-29. Administrative, insurance, reimbursement, billing and visa rules can change. Follow current official instructions before acting.