Patient Resources

For a second read, one of our expert radiologists will review your diagnostic images from another healthcare institution to confirm a cancer diagnosis.

For a second opinion, one of our skilled pathologists will review your pathology slides from another healthcare organization to confirm a cancer diagnosis.

These reviews can offer an additional perspective on your case, which could help guide your treatment journey.

If you’re a new patient at Miami Cancer Institute, our Patient Intake Department will work with you to gather your medical records from previous institutions before your first appointment. This includes diagnostic scans and pathology slides and reports from your current healthcare provider that led to your diagnosis.

During your first visit to Miami Cancer Institute, we will perform a second read or second opinion of your scans and slides. An expert radiologist will review any imaging scans and a pathologist will review any slides and reports.

After their review, the radiologist and/or pathologist will issue an official report and send it to your doctor, who will then meet with you to discuss the results. Depending on the results, you may also receive additional testing to explore all your treatment options.

When it comes to a cancer diagnosis, getting another doctor’s perspective can help you confirm your original diagnosis and help you better understand your treatment options. Sometimes, second reads and opinions could modify your diagnosis and widen the options available for treating your cancer, such as clinical trials and novel treatments.

If you’re a new patient at Miami Cancer Institute, reviewing scans or pathology slides from your case provides your doctor with the most detailed and accurate information about your cancer. That way, they can prescribe the most effective treatment plan.

Second read and second opinion services are standard practice at most major cancer centers. In fact, it’s routine to have another healthcare provider review information about your case. Doing so helps patients receive the highest level of care and may help determine the most effective treatment options.

We bill our second read and second opinion services to your insurance, just like any other medical service. However, depending on your insurance, you may be responsible for co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles or certain out-of-pocket expenses. Contact your insurance company to learn more about what is covered.