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Home > Archive > Radiology > July 2005 > CAT Scan vs. MRI !?
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CAT Scan vs. MRI !?
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| As a result of a recent car accident, I may need to have some scans
done. In discussing these with my doctor, I need to be clear on which
type of scan is which. I've had both MRIs and CAT scans in the past,
but always get them mixed up. Can someone remind me?
-- One test used a very powerful magnet, and I was in a very, very
long, narrow, tube-like enclosure. It was unpleasant in the sense
that I felt like I was in a darn coffin. However, no IV was involved.
I hear that they can now do the same test with a much wider, less
confining enclosure, and still get a pretty good resolution. I also
remember the device making very loud ticking noises.
-- The other test used a much bigger opening, and the device was much
flatter -- more like a doughnut. Claustophobia was not an issue
there. An IV was involved -- I think they said it was iodine -- and
they warned me it would feel warm, and possibly make me want to
urinate. Fortunately, I felt very little of either side effect, so it
was much less of a problem.
I'd be grateful if someone could remind me which test was which!
While we are at it, I'd be curious to know -- for each test, which are
they best at resolving? I have a back injury from the car accident --
possibly ligament or tendon damage, possibly (minor) nerve injury,
possibly injury to a disk. (No broken bones, at least according to a
plain old X-ray.) Which type of test are they most likely to ask for?
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| Ray Laughton 2005-07-11, 5:55 pm |
| IO <io@null.com> wrote:
> As a result of a recent car accident, I may need to have some scans
> done. In discussing these with my doctor, I need to be clear on which
> type of scan is which. I've had both MRIs and CAT scans in the past,
> but always get them mixed up. Can someone remind me?
>
> -- One test used a very powerful magnet, and I was in a very, very
> long, narrow, tube-like enclosure. It was unpleasant in the sense
> that I felt like I was in a darn coffin. However, no IV was involved.
> I hear that they can now do the same test with a much wider, less
> confining enclosure, and still get a pretty good resolution. I also
> remember the device making very loud ticking noises.
= MRI
> -- The other test used a much bigger opening, and the device was much
> flatter -- more like a doughnut. Claustophobia was not an issue
> there. An IV was involved -- I think they said it was iodine -- and
> they warned me it would feel warm, and possibly make me want to
> urinate. Fortunately, I felt very little of either side effect, so it
> was much less of a problem.
= CT scan
> I'd be grateful if someone could remind me which test was which!
>
> While we are at it, I'd be curious to know -- for each test, which are
> they best at resolving? I have a back injury from the car accident --
> possibly ligament or tendon damage,
MRI
> possibly (minor) nerve injury,
MRI
> possibly injury to a disk.
MRI
> (No broken bones,
CT
> at least according to a plain old X-ray.) Which type of test are they
> most likely to ask for?
rl
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| Sbharris[atsign]ix.netcom.com 2005-07-12, 11:11 pm |
|
IO wrote:
> While we are at it, I'd be curious to know -- for each test, which are
> they best at resolving? I have a back injury from the car accident --
> possibly ligament or tendon damage, possibly (minor) nerve injury,
> possibly injury to a disk. (No broken bones, at least according to a
> plain old X-ray.) Which type of test are they most likely to ask for?
COMMENT:
You weren't paying for the thing with a personal check, were you? No?
Then the answer is: the most expensive one.
SBH
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| Howard McCollister 2005-07-12, 11:11 pm |
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"Sbharris[atsign]ix.netcom.com" <sbharris@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:1121129306.645934.175990@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> IO wrote:
>
>
>
> COMMENT:
>
> You weren't paying for the thing with a personal check, were you? No?
> Then the answer is: the most expensive one.
>
>
Steve, your increasing level of cynicism here on sci.med tends to
increasingly distract from your usually lucid posts.
Just an observation...
HMc
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