I personally like to read reports before I talk to the doctor because I want to have time to digest everything and have my questions ready. There is nothing more frustrating to me than to have the doctor just read and discuss the impressions section, then give me a copy of the report so when I get home and read the details I'm left with questions. It may be a long time before I see that doctor again.

Sometimes there are incidental findings in a CT or other scan, but my specialist doesn't mention them if they are not related to the condition that doctor is treating me for. I find a lot of specialists have tunnel vision and only care about (or are knowledgeable about) their little piece of the puzzle. Or they may not want to bring up incidental findings because they don't want to take the time. If I ask questions, they can either explain it's something common (like liver cysts) or refer me to another specialist if there is a concern.

I do think it really depends on your personality. I like details. I'm pretty medically savvy especially about my own conditions. If I don't understand something, I research it so I can have an intelligent discussion with my doctor. If you're unfamiliar with the medical terms, you're less likely to understand and remember what the doctor tells you.

Some people don't like to know details and just want to be told what to do next. That's not me. I want to be sure everything makes sense. I believe you need to be informed in order to be your own best advocate. People that don't want to know the details are not likely to use the portal anyway.

Typically, when I read a report that has posted, I'm going to be seeing the doctor in a day or two to discuss it anyway so any misconceptions on my part will be cleared up soon. When we have to wait too long for a report, we can start to imagine the worst. Anticipation can be worse than reality. To me, there are more pros than cons to reading the report in advance of the visit.