MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical
imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and
computer-generated radio waves to create detailed
images of the organs and tissues in your body
Usage of MRI
anomalies of the brain and spinal cord
tumors, cysts, and other anomalies in various parts of
the body
breast cancer screening for women who face a high
risk of breast cancer
injuries or abnormalities of the joints, such as the
back and knee
certain types of heart problems
diseases of the liver and other abdominal organs
the evaluation of pelvic pain in women, with causes
including fibroids and endometriosis
suspected uterine anomalies in women undergoing
evaluation for
Benefits of MRI:
MRI is non-invasive and does not use radiation
MRI does not involve radiation
MRI contrasting agent is less likely to produce an
allergic reaction that may occur when iodine-based
substances are used for x-rays and CT scans
MRI gives extremely clear, detailed images of soft-
tissue structures that other imaging techniques cannot
achieve
MRI can easily create hundreds of images from
almost any direction and in any orientation
Unlike techniques that examine small parts of the
body (i.e. ultrasound or mammography) MRI exams
can cover large portions of the body
MRI can determine if a cancer has spread, and help
determine the best treatment
Disadvantages of MRI:
MRI is expensive.
MRI will not be able to find all cancers (breast cancers
indicated by microcalcifications)
MRI cannot always distinguish between malignant
tumors or benign disease (such as breast
fibroadenomas), which could lead to a false positive
results
MRI is not painful, but the patient must remain still in
an enclosed machine, which may be a problem for
claustrophobic patients
An undetected metal implant in a patient’s body may
be affected by the strong magnet of the MRI unit
There is a small chance that a patient could develop
an allergic reaction to the contrasting agent, or that a
skin infection could develop at the site of injection
If a patient chooses to be sedated for the scanning,
there is a slight risk associated with using the
sedation medication
CT Scan
computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of
X-ray images taken from different angles around your
body and uses computer processing to create cross-
sectional images (slices) of the bones, blood vessels and
soft tissues inside your body. CT scan images provide
more-detailed information than plain X-rays do.
Usage of CT scan
Examine internal and bone injuries from vehicle
accidents or other trauma
Diagnose spinal problems and skeletal injuries
Detect osteoporosis
Detect many different types of cancers and determine
the extent (spread) of the tumors
Locate infections
Look for injuries, stroke-causing clots, hemorrhaging,
and other issues in the head
Image the lungs to reveal blood clots in the lungs'
vessels, excess fluid, pneumonia, and chronic pulmonary
obstructive disease (COPD)
Determine the cause of chest or abdominal pain,
difficulty breathing, and other symptoms
Diagnose dangerous vascular diseases that can
cause stroke, kidney failure, and death
Advantages of CT
Shows a range of very different tissue types clearly
3D images can be generated
QUICK CT scan is useful for diagnosing internal
injuries in trauma victims - a scan only takes a couple
of minutes, and it can find problems quickly and save
their lives
Disadvantages of CT
Uses ionising radiation which can cause cancer - if
over exposed
limit to the amount of scans you can have - over
exposure is harmful
uses higher dose of radiation compared to an X-ray -
CAT scans more harmful
Fewer CAT scans available compared to X-rays
Less portable than X-ray machine