Computed Tomography

A CT scan can be used to visualize nearly all parts of the body and is
used to diagnose disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or
radiation treatment. CT scans can provide detailed information to diagnose,
plan treatment for, and evaluate many conditions in adults and children.

Things that a CT scan can find include:

 Certain types of cancer and benign (noncancerous) tumors.

 Fractures (broken bones).
 Heart disease.
 Blood clots.
 Bowel disorders (blockages, Crohn's disease).
 Brain and spinal cord diseases or injuries.
 Internal bleeding.

A CT scan, or computed tomography scan, sends radiation through the

body. However, unlike a simple X-ray study, it offers a much higher level of
detail, creating computerized, 360-degree views of the body’s structures.
CT scans are fast and detailed. They take longer than X-rays but are still
fast (about one minute). This makes them ideal for emergency situations.

MRI
MRI is a medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and
computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of the organs
and tissues in your body. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRIs don’t use any
radiation.
 At Johns Hopkins, we’ve developed very fast, high-resolution MRIs that
can be done in 10 minutes or less. An MRI scanner is a highly specialized
machine and may not be available in some imaging facilities or emergency
rooms at other hospitals.

“Often, problems are too subtle to see on an X-ray,” says Fayad. “That’s
where MRI comes in. An MRI offers excellent contrast resolution for bones
and soft tissues.”

Differences
A CT scan may be recommended if a patient can’t have an MRI. People
with metal implants, pacemakers or other implanted devices shouldn’t have
an MRI due to the powerful magnet inside the machine. CT scans create
images of bones and soft tissues. However, they aren’t as effective as
MRIs at exposing subtle differences between types of tissue.

X-RAY
An X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures
inside your body — particularly your bones. An X-ray, also called a
radiograph, sends radiation through the body. Areas with high levels of
calcium (bones and teeth) block the radiation, causing them to appear
white on the image. Soft tissues allow the radiation to pass through. They
appear gray or black on the image.
An X-ray is the fastest and most accessible form of imaging. An X-ray
exam only takes a few minutes to complete. “That’s usually the first-line
imaging“. “X-rays often allow us to see major problems with the bones.”