Which is Better for You: CT or MRI?

If you have some symptoms of the central nervous system, you will be checked by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in your brain. But which is more suitable for your disease? What is the difference between CT and MRI?

The advantage of a CT scan is its convenience. It takes about 5 - 10 minutes to scan your brain. If your condition is severe, the short scan time is very reasonable. The other advantage of CT is the powerful indication ability of hemorrhage in your brain. So, if you have bleeding in your brain, such as intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage, the CT scan is the best choice for you.

One of the benefits of MRI is its high- resolution image. It usually can detect smaller changes in your brain than CT. MRI doesn't use radioactivity, so it is not harmful for you and this also may be a big advantage. If your doctor suspects the diseases such as ischemia, infection, inflammation, and tumors in your brain, the doctor will perform an MRI study for you.

An MRI study takes longer than a CT scan and it can easily cause motion artifacts. Thus, unconscious patients or those in a severe condition are not suitable candidates. Patients who have pacemakers are strictly prohibited from MRI, because the MRI will cause them to malfunction.