MRI vs CT Scan

One of the common questions about MRI vs CT scan asked by patients is what is the difference between CT and MRI ? Why should i have a CT instead of an MRI ? Or why should i have an MRI instead of a CT ?

These are very common questions , the answer come from 2 other very important questions

What part of the body does your doctor want to see ? AND

what is the reason for the exam ?

CT scan does not show you tendons and ligaments very well at all , at least not yet. MRI is the best choice for that. Tendons and ligaments around the shoulder and knee are best seen by the physics used in MRI. This is due to the density of the tissues that compose the tendons and ligaments.

Spinal cord is best seen by MRI for the same reason. The density of the spinal cord and the composition of it is such that MRI physics can show it to us much better than CT.

The are also reason why CT is the exam of choice over MRI. It is the preferred modality for cancer, pneumonia, and abnormal chest X-ray. Bleeding in the brain, especially from injury, is better seen on CT than MRI. But a tumor in the brain is better seen on MRI.

If you have been in an accident, organs can get torn or damaged. CT shows organ tear and organ injury quickly and efficiently. Broken bones and vertebral bodies of the spine are better seen on CT but injury to spinal cord itself is displayed on MRI far better than CT.

CT is far superior at visualizing the lungs and organs in the chest cavity between the lungs. MRI is not a good tool for visualizing the chest or lungs at all.

MRI vs CT scan depends on what needs to be visualized and the reason you need the test. Radiologists are the doctors that specialize in reading images of the body and therefore know whiche test is best for showing anatomy according to the reason for the exam. Very experienced CT and MRI technologists will aso know from working with Radiologists.