Pet Scan Vs Ct Scan Vs Mri

Some imaging centers combine pet scans with ct scans to create specialized images.

Pet scan vs ct scan vs mri. Comparing ct and pet ct petct scans provide significantly more information than ct scans and are far more reliable when diagnosing cancer. Ct scans and mris are both used to capture images within your body. The biggest difference is that mris magnetic resonance imaging use radio waves and ct computed tomography scans use x rays. The reality is that you cannot rely on a ct scan or ultrasound mri or blood test to tell you if you have cancer.

Computed tomography ct scans on the other hand works much like an x ray only with greater 3d detail of the organs bones and tissues inside your body. This is the main difference between the ct and mri scans. Ct or computerized tomography scan uses x rays that take images of cross sections of the bones or other parts of the body to diagnose tumors or lesions in the abdomen blood clots and lung conditions like emphysema or pneumonia. Ct scans and mri scans are two medical imaging methods that create detailed images of internal body parts including bones joints and organs.

What is a ct scan. Mri or magnetic resonance imaging uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to make images of the organs cartilage tendons and other soft tissues of the body. Pet scans and ct scans are both critical diagnostic tools that provide clear accurate views into the body. Pet scans positron emission tomography scans are often done in conjunction with ct scans computerized tomography scans or mri scans magnetic resonance imaging scans.

While it sounds scary the tracer typically leaves your body a few hours after the scan. Pet scan compared to a ct scan. Positron emission tomography pet scans measure emissions from positron emitting molecules. A pet scan uses small amounts of radioactive substances called contrast materials for contrast within the body.

The pet scanner will detect the tracer and turn the data into 3 d images on a computer monitor. During the scan a narrow x ray beam circles your body taking a series of images from different angles. Pet scans provide metabolic information and are increasingly read alongside ct or mri magnetic resonance imaging scans which provide anatomic information. Learn about their similarities and differences here.

Because many useful common elements have positron emitting forms carbon nitrogen and oxygen valuable functional information can be obtained. It is only with a petct scan that you will know for sure.