Can I get my x-rays and scans on a disk?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Yes - images are your record under HIPAA: ask the radiology department or imaging center that took them; delivery is now usually a secure download link or a disk with a built-in viewer. Ask for DICOM images (the actual diagnostic data) plus the radiology report. Costs stay low - links often free, disks a few dollars - and the 30-day clock applies though most turn around in days. The habit: collect copies after every significant scan - second opinions and emergency rooms move faster with images in hand, and archives get purged over the years.
What to do
- Ask the imaging facility directly. They hold the originals, not your doctor.
- Request DICOM plus the report. Data and interpretation, both.
- Prefer the download link. Free, instant, and shareable.
- File every significant scan. Archives get purged; your copy does not.
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