In the field of health care, there have been successful advancements in medical imaging techniques. They allow the visual representation of internal structures, tissues, and organs of the body in response to the radiations. You must have wondered how there is much medical imaging test and how do doctors select which method is suitable. The following articles discuss some major points regarding commonly applied techniques that are CT scan, MRI, and PET scan.

CT scan

A CT scan (computed tomography) requires the patient to lie upon a table that slides into a CT scanner – a donut-shaped machine with a tunnel inside. It makes utilization of computer prepared combinations of numerous X-rays pictures taken from various points to create cross-sectional pictures of particular ranges of a filtered object, permitting the client to see inside the body without cutting. It differs from an x-ray as it picks up soft tissues and subtle parts more clearly. It is frequently alluded to as a CAT scan that is an abbreviation of computer-aided tomography. CT scan is a top tool to study chest, abdomen, and pelvis, usually in the diagnosis of cancers. It is also a preferred method in brain injuries.

MRI

MRI which is an abbreviation of “magnetic resonance imaging” is a restorative imaging strategy utilized as a part of radiology to frame images of the physiological procedures of the body. MRI scanners utilize powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce pictures of tissues and organs within the body.

PET scan

PET is an abbreviation of “Positron emission tomography”. It is a form of nuclear medicine that uses a radiotracer to measure significant body functions like blood flow, oxygen use, and glucose metabolism. The framework recognizes sets of gamma beams discharged in a roundabout way by a positron-emitting radionuclide, which is brought into the body on a naturally dynamic particle. It usually detects disease before they’re noticed by other scans.

CT scan VS MRI VS PET Scan

This article is going to give you a clear understanding of these terms by discussing the difference between them.

Purpose:

The main purpose of a CT scan is to have a more intensive look at the delicate tissues, organs, and blood vessels to diagnose cancers, cardiovascular disease, infections, and trauma.

MRIs are normally utilized for the purpose to detect anomalies of the brain and spinal cord, cysts, tumors, and aneurysms.

The main purpose of the PET scan is to figure out the normal brain and function of the heart and it is valuable in cancer diagnosis, metastasis, and prognosis.

Time:

A CT scan almost takes 10-20 minutes to take a picture, depending upon the part being scanned.

Time taken for an MRI varies from 15-90 minutes.

There is an hour-long resting period before the PET scan allowing the radiotracer to be absorbed in the specific tissues, and the genuine scan will require around 30-60 minutes.

Radiation:

CT scan exposes a person to 1-10 mSv of radiation.

MRIs don’t include any ionizing radiation at all, which is the motivation behind why they are preferred in such a variety of circumstances.

PET scan exposes the person to 25mSv of radiation.

Limitations:

Due to exposure to radiation, a CT scan should not be performed in pregnant women unless the benefits outbalance the risk involved.

Patients with metal embedded in their body cannot undergo MRIs such as bullets, metallic foreign bodies, cochlear implants, pacemakers, etc.

In a PET scan, the image resolution may not be as clear as that of an MRI or CT scan. They are also time-consuming and comparatively expensive.

Conclusion

From the above article, we can conclude that the selection of imaging techniques primarily depends upon the state of the patient and the disease itself. MRI is better than CT scan and PET scan because of no radiation involvement but CT scan and PET scan are good for tumors and cancers. CT scan is very important in the identification of cancer or any other fatal disease.

 References:

https://theconversation.com/amp/having-a-scan-heres-how-the-different-types-work-and-what-they-can-find-99017

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146309

https://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~jce317/types-medical-imaging.html

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/10123-pet-scan/test-details

https://www.healthline.com/health/mri-vs-pet-scan

https://blog.radiology.virginia.edu/different-imaging-tests-explained/