MRI vs. CT Scans free essay sample

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are both diagnostic tests that provide us with high-resolution pictures of any area of the body. Both tests use computers to construct pictures to view within the body. Both of these tests are non-invasive procedures designed to provide medical professionals with a better understanding of the patient’s condition. There are, however, inherent differences in these tests’ mechanisms, sophistication, and application (â€Å"What is the Difference Between CT and MRI? †). In short, computed tomography uses a refined version of X-ray equipment to produce an image of the body. As the patient is slowly moved through the machine, its X-Ray tube rotates around the body and sends beams from all directions to a specific spot on the patient’s body. Because at any moment its beams are confined to a â€Å"slice† of the body about as thick as a dime, CT Scans end the confusion resulting from overlapping structure seen in conventional X-rays. The device’s computer translates this information into a detailed, cross-sectional picture of the region being scanned (Marieb 8). All of the pictures can be saved as a group on a computer, and can also be printed out to show the results to the patient (â€Å"Computed Tomography†). In contrast, an MRI produces high-contrast images for multiply areas of our body. This technique subjects the body to magnetic fields 60,000 times stronger that that of the earth’s. The MRI Pliura 2 primarily maps the body’s content of hydrogen, most of which is in water. The patient essentially lies in a chamber within a huge magnet. When the machine is turned on the body’s hydrogen molecules act like tiny magnets, spinning like tops in the magnetic field. Their energy is also enhanced by the radio waves of the machine, and when the machine is turned off the energy released is translated into a visual image. MRI distinguishes our body’s tissues based on their water content, so it can differentiate between the fatty white matter and the more watery gray matter of the brain (Marieb 9). Both of these tests operate differently and are better suited for different types of diagnoses (â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI†). An MRI can be done for many different reasons. For instance, it is used to find problems such as tumors, bleeding, injury, or infection within the body. MRI’s are often done to provide more information about a problem seen by another type of medical image (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). For example, an MRI would be a physician’s best alternative if they needed to detect a disease within the body that could not be seen by the CT Scanner (Shiel). The magnetic field of the MRI allows it to gather information that cannot be seen by other types of medical imaging (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). Meanwhile, a CT scan is able to record images of bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels simultaneously, offering a clear advantage over the MRI in some cases. A CT Scan can also be used to guide needle biopsies during surgery. For instance, using a CT Scan can allow cardiologists to view images of arteries without ever having to do experimental testing. This painless procedure greatly assist physicians in diagnosing cardiovascular illnesses, musculoskeletal problems, and certain types of cancer. In some situations the CT would be the preferred scan of choice simply for its speed and limited Pliura 3 restrictions of the patient. Both of these scans offer unique advantages for different situations. The specific area of the body being viewed is another vital aspect to consider when picking which scan to use (Ryan). An MRI can be done for a number of injuries dealing with the head. It can look for aneurysms, bleeding of the brain, or problems such as damage caused by a stroke. The MRI can also find damage of the optic nerves, along with auditory nerves of our ears (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). Because dense structures do not show up at all in an MRI, it peers easily into the skull, enabling the delicate nerve fibers to be seen (Marieb 9). A spinal cord injury can prompt a physician to order an MRI instead of a CT Scan (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). For instance, multiple sclerosis plaques within the spinal cord do not show up well in CT Scans, but are dazzlingly clear in an MRI (Marieb 9). Additionally, the MRI will check the discs and nerves of the spine for conditions such as bulging discs, herninated discs, or spinal tumors (â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging†). In contrast, CT Scans can be used to get images of the body as a whole, or certain parts such as the chest, abdomen, pancreas, or limb. For example, a CT of the chest would look for problems with the lungs, heart, esophagus, or the tissues in the center of the chest (â€Å"Computed Tomography†). CT Scans are often used to take a full scan of a patient’s abdomen, and they are now considered the forefront for evaluating most problems that affect the abdomen (Marieb 8). As opposed to an MRI, a CT of the arm or leg would not only look at the soft tissue, but it would also examine the blood vessels and bones of that limb as well (â€Å"Computed Tomography†). Pliura 4 Although these cutting-edge technologies provide us with life-saving information, they both have problems of their own (â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI†). The major concern with a CT Scan is the radiation. At maximum power, a CT Scan can give radiation equal to 600 chest X-rays. This can lead to the possibility of cancer in some patients (Ryan). Rebecca Bindman, professor of radiology and one of the nation’s top experts in the risk of radiographs, states that a 20-year old women who gets an abdominal-pelvic CT Scan has a 1 in 250 chance of getting cancer from that single scan. The best estimates are that radiation from CT’s cause 29,000 excess cancers each year in the U. S. , and this is mostly in women. Nearly 60 million Americans will receive a CT Scan in a given year, and some experts suggest over one-third of these scans are unnecessary. This leads to the realization that if we could reduce the unnecessary scans, we could possibly reduce cancer (Wachter). Pregnant women are also not recommend to get a CT for the large amounts of radiation that could be exposed to the fetus. In some cases the X-rays of a CT Scan can actually damage the DNA of the developing fetus. Since the federal government has no regulations on the amount of radiation a patient receives during a CT, the referring physician decides the strength of the dose. This is why it’s critical a physician has the best understanding possible to only give the necessary amounts of radiation (Ryan). Although the MRI avoids radiation exposure, it’s not without problems either (Shiel). One of the downfalls of this machine is that it makes a tremendous amount of noise during the scan. The noise sounds like a continual, rapid hammering, and is due to the rising electrical currents being opposed by the magnetic field. People who are pregnant or obese most often Pliura 5 cannot fit into the MRI system (â€Å"MRI: Advantages and Disadvantages†). This is due to the very narrow tube the patient must be inserted into. Because of this some patients experience a claustrophobic sensation during the procedure (Shiel). In fact, 30% of patients admit to having some level of distress while having an MRI (â€Å"Claustrophobia and MRI†). The time required to complete an MRI examination is also not something to be excited about. While a CT Scan only takes 5 minutes, an MRI can sometimes take over 30 minutes to obtain an accurate read (â€Å"CT Scan vs.  MRI†). Since the scan takes so long, it requires patients to hold still for extended periods of time. This is why infants often cannot get an MRI; they are not able to hold still for a long enough period. Even slight movements of the part being scanned can cause distorted images which means the scanning has to be repeated (â€Å"MRI: Advan tages and Disadvantages†). The procedure of both scans have similarities and differences between them. For instance, both consist of a contrast dye that is injected into the scan area to enhance the definition (Ragavan). Additionally, during both procedures a medical attendant will be close by in case of emergency (Shiel). A moving couch is what actually moves the patient through the scanner of both machines. However, with a CT the person is moved through a hoop that has the shape of a very large doughnut. Whereas with a MRI, the moving couch moves the patient through a cylinder that nearly encloses the body. The scan’s results also differ in the fact that a CT’s results show up as a 2-dimensional image, whereas the magnetism of the MRI allows it to build up a 3-dimensional image of the body (Ragavan). The cost of each procedure is another aspect to consider carefully, especially if the cost is coming out-of-pocket. To put simply, CT Scans are much cheaper than MRI’s. CT’s cost Pliura 6 anywhere from $1,200-$3,200 while an MRI can cost up to $4,000. As a general rule, the MRI usually cost double what a CT Scan would cost. It becomes the patient’s choice as to whether they want to spend less on a lower-grade image or more on a higher-grade image. The cost of the machine itself also distinguishes the two machines. A very low end CT Scanner costs around $150,000, while a top-of-the-line CT Scanner can cost in upwards of $450,000. This is a small amount when compared to the $1 Million dollars most new MRI machines cost. Furthermore, some of the top-of-the-line MRI machines can cost almost $1. 5 Million. Both the CT and MRI will require annual maintenance, which can also cost tens of thousands of dollars (â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI†). In conclusion, and as mentioned earlier, each scan operates in its own way and both are better suited for different types of diagnoses. Therefore, it is not which scan is better overall, rather, it’s which scan will best help the physician diagnose the patient for that particular case. Works Cited â€Å"Claustrophobia and MRI. † proscan. com. PDF file. â€Å"Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body. † WebMD. WebMD, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. â€Å"CT Scan vs. MRI. † Diffen. Diffen, 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging. † WebMD. WebMD, 16 May 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Marieb, Elaine. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. San Franciso, CA: Pearson Benjamenin Cummings, 2009. Print. â€Å"MRI: Advantages and Disadvantages. † Anapol Schwartz. Anapol Schwartz, 2008. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Ragavan, Vijayan. â€Å"MRI and CT Scan The Differences. † Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 8 Jul. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Ryan, David. â€Å"Advantages and Disadvantages of a CT Scan. † LIVESTRONG. com. Demand Media, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. Shiel, William. â€Å"Magnetic Resonance Imaging. † MedicineNet. com. MedicineNet. com, 31 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. Wachter, Bob. â€Å"A Game-Changing Statistic: 1 in 250. † The Health Care Blog. The Health Care Blog, 11 Feb. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. â€Å"What is the Difference Between CT and MRI? † University MRI Diagnostic Imaging Centers. University MRI, 2004. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.