{"id":388,"date":"2018-06-09T10:42:22","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T10:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yza.ec2.mytemp.website\/blog\/?p=388"},"modified":"2019-05-24T10:01:15","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T04:31:15","slug":"difference-between-mri-scan-and-a-ct-scan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/difference-between-mri-scan-and-a-ct-scan\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s The Difference Between An MRI Scan And A CT Scan?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\u00a0We\u2019ve highlighted the main differences below \u2013 reach out to us for additional information!<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

MRI<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

CT<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

How it works<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

An MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce images of the internal parts of your body.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

A CT machine sends X-ray beams through the body, taking many 2D pictures from various angles, which a computer later joins together to form a 3D image.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Machine shape<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Doughnut-shaped machine with a hole in the middle, mostly closed on the other end. (Closed MRI, most powerful)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Doughnut-shaped machine with a hole in the middle, open on both sides.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Strength indicators<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Check the magnet strength denoted by \u2018T\u2019 for Tesla. Today, a 3T MRI (closed MRI) is the most widely accepted MRI scanner that produces images of maximum clarity.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

In CT machines, the greater the number of \u2018slices\u2019, the sharper the quality of the scan. For example, a 128 slice CT machine produces very clear images as compared to a lower slice CT scanner.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Purpose<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

An MRI scan is required when images need to be detailed. An MRI scan offers more soft tissue image and bone details than a CT scan. Especially in the case of strokes, tumours, etc. MRI scans show the difference between normal and abnormal tissue.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

A CT scan is used when speed is important: for example, in the case of trauma and stroke.<\/p>\n

CT scans enable imaging of bone, soft tissue and blood vessels at the same time, but they are not as detailed as an MRI \u2013 for example, a CT scan can pinpoint size and location of tumours but does not show differences between normal and abnormal tissue.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Claustrophobia<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Since the MRI scanner is closed on one end, many patients suffer from claustrophobia during the scan.<\/p>\n

However, newer 3T MRI scanners with ambient experience reduce the incidence of claustrophobia by allowing patients to see movies during the scan and creating an illusion of more space and light.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Claustrophobia is not an issue since the scanner is open on both sides.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Magnets and radiation<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

An MRI has no ionizing radiation since it works on magnetic fields and radio waves<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Though a CT scan uses X-rays, its radiation dose is small enough to be negligible.<\/p>\n

However, CT scans may not be recommended for pregnant women or very small children.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Time taken<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Average Duration: 7-20 minutes<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Average Duration: 5-15 minutes<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Caution to be taken<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

Since the MRI has a powerful magnet, NO METALLIC OBJECTS should be taken inside the MRI room. Also, never enter the MRI room without a staff member accompanying you \u2013 remember, the MRI magnet is always ON, it is never switched off.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

People with metal implants like pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, etc. can undergo a CT scan. However wearing other metal items should still be avoided, since they will interfere with the scan quality.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Fasting requirements<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

No fasting required, even for scans with contrast<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

If patient is getting a CT scan with contrast, he\/she will be required to fast for 3 hours prior to the scan<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

<\/p>\n

Contrast dye<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re advised to get a scan with contrast, a dye will be injected into your body. This dye helps highlight the internal structures of your body better, making a more accurate diagnosis possible. The dye is generally a gadolinium dye and is injected through an intravenous canula inserted in the vein in your hand.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/p>\n

CT scans can also be done with contrast. In this case, typically an iodine-based or barium-sulfate-based agent is administered. This dye is either ingested or injected into the vein of the hand through an intravenous canula.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

\n
\n\n\t

About Star Imaging<\/h2>
Star Imaging offers the world\u2019s most advanced technology, including 3T MRI scanners with ambient experience, 128 slice CT scanners, etc. For more information, feel free to reach out to us.<\/div><\/div>
Book an Appointment<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mri-and-ct-scan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=388"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1113,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/388\/revisions\/1113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starimagingindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}