What’s the difference between an X-ray, CT, and MRI?

Medical imaging is the process and technique of creating visual representations of the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention.

There are many reasons someone might need medical imaging. It can be used to look for broken bones, diagnose cancers, or monitor the effects of medical treatment.

If you need a medical scan, a few different imaging technologies might be used: X-ray, CT scan, or MRI.

But what’s the difference between them?

X-ray

X-rays are the oldest and most common form of medical imaging. An X-ray machine uses radiation to send a beam of energy through the body. The energy is absorbed more by dense tissue, like bone, than by soft tissue, like skin or organs.

This difference is used to create an image of the inside of the body.

Why use an X-ray?

The benefit of having an X-Ray is that it is quicker and easier to do than a CT scan or MRIand can be used for a fast diagnosis if required.

CT scan

A CT scan is a computed tomography (CT) that acts as s a powerful X-ray that takes a 360-degree image of internal organs, the spine, and vertebrae. Contrast dyes can be injected into the blood to make structures within the body more visible on the CT scan.

When you have a CT scan, you will lie on a table that slides into the center of a large scanner. Thescanner is a donut-shaped machine that takes pictures of your body. An X-ray tube inside the scanner rotates around your body and collects images of your organs, bones, and blood vessels. A computer then combines these images into detailed pictures.

What is the benefit of having a CT scan over an X-Ray or MRI?

CT scans are more detailed than X-rays and can show problems with your organs, bones, and blood vessels.

MRI

An MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed, high-resolution cross-section images of bones and soft structures inside the body.

How does an MRI work?

During an MRI, you lie on a table that slides into the center of a large machine called a magnet. The magnet creates a strong magnetic field around you. This field aligns the atoms in your body, so the MRI machine can read them. Radio waves are sent from the machine to your body and bounce off the aligned atoms. The MRI machine reads these waves and makes detailed pictures of the inside of your body.

What is the benefit of having an MRI over an X-Ray or CT scan?

The benefit of having magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is that it can show fine detail that may not be visible on an X-ray or CT scan.

Here is an image that shows an X-ray, CT and MRI.

Can you see the difference?