CAT Scan vs MRI

When a doctor has to diagnose and treat certain medical ailments and conditions, he may resort to the use of medical imaging. This is a technique that has proved very useful to doctors and medical institutions over the years, as it provides a clear image of any part of the body and determine what is wrong with it. There are much confusion in the minds of people regarding these 2 methods though, and the CAT scan vs MRI debate is one that has perplexed many patients.

The obvious advantage of both these methods is that they are completely painless and non intrusive. The patient experiences no degree of pain or discomfort, and the ease with which the doctor can diagnose the problem is exemplary. But this is where the similarity between Cat scan vs MRI ends. Though the method of both these techniques is almost the same, the conditions that both methods detect are very different from each other.

CT Scan vs MRI - Which to Use?
This is a question that is best left in the hands of the specialists. They are the ones who decide which one out of these two tests would be more suitable for you, and would help diagnose your condition easily. There are primarily two factors which determine which one out of CAT scan vs MRI is more suitable for you.

1. What part of the body is affected?
2. What is the cause of the examination?

Keeping the answers to these two questions in mind, the doctor will take a call about which method of examination you must comply with.

CAT Scan
CT scans are a highly specialized kind of X-rays. This method is most suitable for receiving the imaging of bone structures and determining if a person has any kind of brain tumor. The patient is required to lie down on a couch, which slides into a chamber which carries out the X-ray of the entire body. The X-rays rotate around the entire body of the patient, and transfers the results to a computer which helps the doctor analyze the situation. Computer Axial Tomography (CAT) scans are extremely useful for determining the anatomy and structure of bones and organs, and as a result help in locating tumors on the bone. Internal bleeding, fractures and even brain cancer can be detected on a person using CAT scans.

MRI
An MRI scan, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, does not use X-rays like a CAT scan does. Instead, this method utilizes the ability of creating a magnetic force inside your body. The equipment that is used to carry out the scan is a large magnet in the shape of a tube. The patient lies on a flat surface, which is then transported inside the tube. The machine sends magnetic waves and radio waves through your body, and collects them through the water cells in your body. This information is transferred to a computer, which then generates an image of the interiors of your body. The MRI scan primarily examines the tissues, the skeletal system and the organs of your body. Any heart disease damage or spinal column injury can also be easily located through an MRI.

Cost of CAT Scan vs MRI
The cost factor is another parameter when you consider the CT scan vs MRI debate. The cheaper test out of the two is the CAT scan, as it costs anything between $1,200 - $3,500. The disadvantage of the CAT scan though is that it is not performed at every hospital. On the other hand, an MRI is slightly more expensive, and it will cost around $1,5000 - $4,000. A glaring advantage of MRIs is that they can be performed easily at almost any hospital.

Factor	CAT Scan	MRI
Bony Structures	Provides good details, and is preferable	Provides comparatively lesser amount of details
Radiation Exposure	Moderate to high degree of exposure	No exposure to radiation
Method of Imaging	X-Rays	Magnetic waves and radio waves
Time for Scan	5-10 minutes	Around 30 minutes
Soft Tissue Details	Lesser amount of details	Higher amount of details.

PET Scan
Another alternative to diagnosing some medical conditions is the PET scan, or the positron emission tomography scan. This method is commonly used to distinguish between cancerous and non cancerous cells, or live tissue and dead tissue. In the debate about PET scan vs CAT scan vs MRI, PET scan is the preferred method to detect cancerous cells. The method of this scan shows the molecules of the body clearly, thus simplifying the process of detecting dangerous or infected cells or tissue.

When the doctor is asked to choose between CAT scan vs MRI, he will assess the situation first and then recommend a suitable test accordingly. The part of the body that is in question, and the severity of the potential risk will determine which out of these two tests would be suggested.