When you suffer an injury, your doctor will likely want to run some tests to get a clearer picture of the affected area. Whether you were injured in a car accident, on a sports field, or during an accidental slip and fall, diagnostic imaging technology can help in determining the most accurate diagnosis for your injury. Perhaps the most commonly known diagnostic imaging test is the X-ray; however, X-rays only show damage like fractures and breaks to bones. More advanced injuries may require a CT scan or MRI. These two types of diagnostic imaging tests have differences in how their technologies work and what types of injuries they are used to diagnose.
What Is a CT Scan?
A CT scan, also known as a CAT scan, stands for Computerized Tomography. This type of scan is a more advanced version of an X-ray. Both X-rays and CT scans use a small dose of radiation in providing a clear picture of the inside of your body, including bones, joints, organs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. While an X-ray provides your doctor with 2D images, a CT scan uses advanced technologies to produce 3D images.
CT scans are highly detailed and precise, which makes them a great diagnostic imaging tool for identifying bone fractures, internal bleeding, tumors, and even cancer. CT scans can also identify blood vessel blockages, spinal cord injuries, osteoporosis damage, and other abnormalities. Multiple X-ray images are taken to create cross-sectional images so your doctor can see how an injury has impacted the entire structure in the area. Your doctor may recommend a CT scan if they suspect a hairline fracture or another injury that is typically hard to find.
What Is an MRI?
Unlike a CT scan or X-ray, MRI does not use radiation for diagnostic imaging purposes. Instead, an MRI uses strong magnets and radio waves to produce images of your injured area. An MRI is also known for being a loud experience because of how the machine operates the large magnets. If your doctor suspects an injury to your soft tissues or organs, then an MRI may provide a much more detailed look at the area. This may include cases like herniated discs and torn ligaments or tendons.
MRIs can be used to diagnose injuries and illnesses just like CT scans. If you have an injury or illness that requires frequent diagnostic imaging tests then your doctor may recommend alternating between CT-scans and MRIs to reduce your exposure to radiation. MRIs are also common in diagnosing issues in your brain, spinal cord, joints, and circulatory system.
What Happens During an MRI versus a CT scan?
Both types of scans will involve you lying down on a table that goes into the MRI machine or CT scanning device. A CT scan is a much quieter experience than an MRI, though in both instances nothing will touch your body and you will not experience any pain. With both types of diagnostic imaging tools, your doctor may request a contrast agent. This means a contrast dye may be injected into one of your veins. This will help provide more contrast for an MRI or CT scan, which improves the image quality and helps your doctor distinguish between the normal and abnormal.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a CT Scan
CT scans are faster and have a more open design, which means they can be a more comfortable experience, especially for people who feel anxious or stressed in smaller, enclosed spaces. The results for CT scans are also typically faster as well, which makes CT scans the preferred method for diagnostic imaging for many doctors, especially in emergency situations.
While CT scans have significant advantages, they do come with small amounts of radiation exposure. CT scans are typically less detailed in their imaging compared to MRIs as well. CT machines also have a weight limit and cannot accommodate patients over 450 pounds. CT scans are also generally not recommended for pregnant women due to the risk of radiation exposure to the fetus.
Advantages and Disadvantages of an MRI
MRIs provide the clearest images of all advanced diagnostic testing technologies available, especially when it comes to diagnosing injuries to soft tissues. MRIs also provide a better picture of organs than CT scans do.
However, MRIs also tend to cost more than a CT scan and are a lot longer of a process. If you suffer from claustrophobia or are sensitive to loud noises then an MRI may not be recommended. You may also not get an MRI if you have a pacemaker, an IUD, or other types of metal implants. A CT scan is much faster and can take around 10 or 15 minutes, while an MRI can last as long as an hour.
There are different kinds of imaging tests. At AICA Orthopedics, our multiple locations across metro Atlanta all have diagnostic imaging technologies available in-house so you don’t have to travel farther than down the hall from your doctor to get the comprehensive care you need.
