CT Scans and MRIs: What’s the Difference?

CT SCANS AND MRIS WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? CT SCAN Stands for COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCAN Is ideal for the quick examination of someone who may have internal injuries Uses computer processing to combine a series of X-rays and create cross- sectional images of the body Can take less than 5 minutes, while MRIS take closer to 30 WHY YOU MAY NEED A CT SCAN A CT scan can help: Pinpoint the location of blood clots, tumors, and infections Guide biopsy and surgical procedures Detect diseases and internal injuries The CT scan was invented by engineer Godfrey Hounsfield and physicist Allan Cormack in 1972 The use of CT technology can often eliminate the need for exploratory surgery MRI Stands for MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING Is ideal for diagnosing a broad range of health problems through high-resolution images Uses radio waves and a magnetic field to produce cross-sectional or 3D images of the body that provide a detailed look at tissues and organs Can show clearer differences between normal and abnormal tissues than a CT scan WHY YOU MAY NEED AN MRI MRIS are often used to diagnose: Brain and spinal cord abnormalities or injuries Stroke and aneurysms of cerebral vessels Tumors, multiple sclerosis, and eye and inner ear disorders Abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system A study using MRI results confirmed that habitual cigarette smoking can cause accelerated aging of the brain New research using functional MRIS indicates that distracting yourself from painful memories can improve your mental health PROVIDED BY: concord imaging www.CONCORDIMAGINGTX.COM Sources: www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mri/home/ovc-20235698 www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ct-scan/basics/definition/prc-20014610 www.decodedscience.org/ct-scan-computed-axial-tomography-cat-scan/772 www.decodedscience.org/cigarette-addiction-chemistry-neurochemistry-and- nicotine/59055 II