MRI vs CT scan, What’s the Difference?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRIs are often confused with CT (Computerised Topography) scans. Although, they may be similar in some respects, their function and applications are vastly different.
The main difference is that MRIs don’t use ionizing radiation like X-rays and CT scans do. In this article we’ll break down what an MRI is, the key differences between it and CT scans, as well as some of the benefits MRIs have in the medical field.
What is an MRI?
MRIs are a medical imaging technique that makes use of strong magnetic fields and radio waves to generate detailed images of your organs, bones, soft tissues, and internal body structures. This may sound intense, but they are in fact painless and do not use any ionizing radiation. MRIs can be used for a variety of applications and diagnostics, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Bone, muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Many other neurological conditions
How does an MRI Differ from a CT scan?
Since MRIs and CT scans are both imaging techniques, they often get confused with one another. Their primary differences lie in their application, technology, and the safety factors. CT scans are better suited for examining bones, blood vessels, and other internal injuries.
They are faster and ideal for patients that have metal implants that can interfere with the magnetic fields of an MRI. This does come at the cost of exposure to ionizing radiation, though.
CT scans combine a series of X-ray images to create a 3D image which is then examined. MRIs on the other hand, are great for examining soft tissue such as ligaments, muscles, and even the brain! This makes it better at diagnosing certain conditions, especially those associated with soft tissue.
Since MRIs don’t use ionizing radiation, radio waves are used to vibrate the atoms in your body which are then detected to construct an image. People with medical implants or claustrophobia are often advised against going for an MRI since the powerful magnetic fields may also cause discomfort in some patients.
Benefits of an MRI
Personalised Treatment Plans
MRIs are phenomenal at providing detailed images of your body’s internal structure. This means that alongside identifying anything unusual, doctors can also pinpoint essential characteristics such as the location and size of an abnormality. This detail allows for personal treatment plans based on the individual patient needs:
- Precise diagnostics allows surgeons to better plan and therefore conduct less-invasive operations. For example, knowing the exact size and location of a tumour means surgeons can target it with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.
- Monitoring treatment response in the form of comparing scans over time allows doctors to see if tumours are shrinking or whether blood flow has improved.
- Treatment selection in the form of revealing what stage of aggressiveness a disease is in can help patients significantly. An MRI scan may reveal that a tumour is smaller than initially expected which means a less invasive treatment can be conducted.
Improved Patient Care
As it is with most of the benefits we see thanks to modern medicine, MRI scans help patients in a multitude of ways:
- Personalised treatment plans mean patients can have an improved quality of life since the need or likelihood of invasive procedures is reduced.
- Better prognosis in the form of early, accurate diagnosis allows for quicker intervention and treatment. Especially with the conditions often associated with MRIs.
- Reduced invasive procedures thanks to the accuracy of MRIs. With a better understanding of the condition, doctors can make more informed decisions with a lower risk to the patient’s health.
Early Disease Detection
Considering how non-invasive and accurate MRI scans are, they are a phenomenal tool for detecting diseases. Early detection can save lives in many ways:
- Improved prevention when it comes to diseases such as aneurysms or tumours. Symptoms of these conditions can be detected before they become life-threatening, which enables doctors to intervene.
- Increased options for treatment become available when a disease is detected early. This also increases the chances of a successful treatment.
- Side effects and patient outcomes can be improved through less aggressive treatment since early-stage diseases have different treatment approaches.
Although the CT scan was invented ten years before the MRI, their contributions towards global health have both been revolutionary. From providing patients with an alternative to ionizing radiation, to improving outcomes thanks to early detection – Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a beautiful example of what humans are capable of.