When to request a musculoskeletal second opinion
Practical referral triggers for clinicians and patients facing unclear or conflicting MSK MRI reports.
Second-opinion MRI review is most valuable when the original report does not fully answer the clinical question, or when findings seem inconsistent with symptoms and examination.
Common referral scenarios include persistent pain despite treatment, discrepancy between two prior reports, unclear postoperative findings, or treatment decisions with high consequences such as surgery.
A structured MSK second opinion should clarify what is present, what is unlikely, and which findings are clinically decision-relevant for the referring physician.