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How to Get Your X-rays, MRI and Records Ready for an Overseas Review

Before Dr. Kalender can tell you whether knee replacement makes sense for you, he needs to see your knee. For most patients that means a set of X-ray images, any MRI you have and a short summary of your health. This guide shows what to gather, how to get copies from US clinics and imaging centers, and what to do if you don’t have recent images.

Updated October 24, 2026 · 6 min read

Key takeaways

The images matter more than the written report. Ask for both.
Standing (weight-bearing) X-rays of the painful knee are the most useful starting point. An MRI is helpful if you have one, not something to rush out and get.
In the US you have a legal right to copies of your records, and you can ask for them to be sent to someone else.
Upload your X-rays or MRI through the consultation form.

What to gather

1. X-ray images (the most important item)

Both knees if you have them, standing, from the front and the side. Standing images show how the joint carries your weight.
The images themselves, not only the radiologist’s report. A report describes what the radiologist saw. Dr. Kalender wants to look for himself.
The date they were taken. Recent images are best. If yours are several years old, a new set may be needed.

2. MRI, if you have one

Send the images and the report. MRI shows soft tissues such as cartilage, ligaments and meniscus, and it’s useful in some cases. It is not always needed to start a review.

3. A short health summary

Your main knee symptoms and how long you’ve had them.
Treatments you’ve tried: physical therapy, injections, braces, medication.
Previous knee surgery or injuries.
Other conditions (for example diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea) and your medications, including blood thinners.
Allergies, especially to antibiotics, metal or latex.
Height and weight.

What the files should look like

Image files from a disc or download. Imaging centers usually provide images in a format called DICOM, on a disc or through an online link. These work best.
JPEG or PDF exports. Fine as a starting point if they’re clear and complete.
Photos of film or of a screen. If it’s all you have, send them with a note. Make sure the whole image is visible and sharp, and that it is not cropped.
Reports. A PDF or a clear photo of each page is fine.

The consultation form accepts JPG, PNG, HEIC, PDF or ZIP files, up to 5 files of 20 MB each. If your images are DICOM files or a large MRI archive, put them in a ZIP file, or message the team on WhatsApp and they’ll tell you the easiest way to share them. If you’re unsure what you have, upload it anyway. The team will tell you what else is needed.

How to get copies of your records in the US

Imaging centers and clinics are used to these requests, and in most cases it takes a few minutes online or one phone call.

Check your patient portal first. Many portals let you download reports, and some let you download images.
Call the imaging center or the hospital’s medical records department. Say that you need a copy of the images and the report, and ask how they can provide them: a disc, an online link or a download. Some call it “radiology images” or “film.”
Ask for the images, not only the report. It’s the most common thing people leave out.
Ask what it costs and how long it takes before you agree.

Your right to your records

Under US federal law (HIPAA), you can get a copy of your health records, including imaging, from your doctors and hospitals.

Providers generally have 30 days to respond, and any fee must be reasonable and cost-based. Ask what it will be before you agree.
You can ask for an electronic copy, and you can ask the provider to send your records directly to someone else if you put that in a signed written request.

Many providers have their own request form, and using it is usually the fastest way.

If you don’t have recent X-rays

Don’t delay your inquiry. Send what you have and say so in your message. If new images are needed, Dr. Kalender’s team will tell you what to ask for. You may need an order from your own doctor to have them taken at an imaging center near you, and some centers also take direct requests.

What happens after you send your files

Upload your X-rays or MRI through the free online consultation form. Dr. Kalender looks at them himself and talks with you about your knee, by video and in English. He tells you what he sees, what he would recommend for you and whether surgery makes sense now. If it’s not the right time, or surgery isn’t the right choice, he says so.

If surgery is right for you, his own pain-free approach is designed to keep pain low from the first hours, get you walking the day after surgery and, for most patients, mean one night in the hospital. The review is free, with no obligation.

Free online consultation → · The pain-free approach →

Ready to send your images?

Upload your X-rays or MRI through the consultation form and Dr. Kalender will review your knee personally. Free, with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an MRI to get a review?

Not necessarily. Standing X-rays are the usual starting point, and an MRI is useful if you already have one. Dr. Kalender will tell you if he needs anything more.

Are my old X-rays still useful?

They can help show how your knee has changed, but recent images give the clearest picture. If yours are old, send them anyway and add a note with the date.

Can I send photos of my X-ray taken with my phone?

Yes, as a starting point, if the image is sharp and complete. Image files from the imaging center are better, so ask for those when you can.

What if my images are on a disc?

Send what you can. If you can’t open the files, tell the team. They’ll explain how to share them.

Sources and notes

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIPAA FAQ: Right to Access and Research: response time, electronic copies, fees and sending records to a third party.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Arthritis of the Knee (OrthoInfo): the role of X-rays, MRI and CT.
This guide is general information and does not replace a personal medical evaluation.

Related guides

Questions to Ask a Knee Replacement Surgeon – 12 questions that work for any surgeon
How Long Does a Knee Replacement Last? – what the research shows
How to Prepare for Knee Replacement Surgery and Your Trip – a checklist for the weeks before

Free online consultation

Send your images and get a personal review.

Dr. Kalender looks at your X-rays or MRI himself, talks through your options and tells you honestly whether surgery makes sense now. Free, with no obligation.