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why mri scan does not give clear images in case of whole body scan?

my doctor priscribed mri whole body scan scan. scanning LAB SAID mri wont give clear images in case of mri.suggested to go for ct scan.pl clarify is it true.

Public Comments

1. An MRI is good if it is focused in a particular area looking for a problem. There are many organs in the body which require special contrast dyes to be injected in order for the MRI to get a better view. CT scans are stronger and the images are crisper so they pick up areas that need contrast viewing with a bit more accuracy than doing a full MRI scan. With a full MRI scan it is a matter of going back when you see something that needs follow up viewing on the film. Because of the increased risk involved with CT scans and contrast dyes, it is usually better not to begin with that unless you are sure where the problem is you are looking for. It really shouldn't be used for a "full body" scan. CT scans have the potential to be much worse for your future health than an MRI. It is recommended not to have very many CT scans over the course of your lifetime, and to limit them to specific areas that need viewing in higher quality images. That's probably why your doctor started out with an MRI instead. Save the "heavy guns" for the most needed area. The scanning lab should have discussed the issue with your doctor by picking up the phone instead of questioning the issue with you. If they had a better idea for a scan to accomplish what the doctor was wanting to look at, your doctor would have needed to alter his order if he agreed. It was inappropriate of the lab to question his order with you instead of asking him. He's the one with the medical expertise and knowledge of your case. While I won't say a good lab technician isn't more knowledgable than some doctors when it comes to certain scans, new scan techniques, and which one would be best to use for a given situation, they should call the doctor with their suggestion, instead of bringing it up with a patient who may not need a more expensive scan, or who might end up paying for it out of their own pocket, or who might end up ill many years from now because of the scan itself.
2. What you were told is incorrect. The resolution of MRIs and CT scans depends on the types of tissues you are looking at. . CT scans are better at bones, MRIs are better at soft tissues. MRIs can detect many more things than a CT scan. Its also a very bad idea to get a whole body CT scan unless you have a known medical condition that requires this type of scan. A whole body CT scan exposes you to huge amounts of X-ray radiation.