what kind of various brain imaging is best????

Question

strengths and weaknesses of the various brain imaging techniques (i.e. EEG, CT Scan, MRI, PET SCAN, and fMRI). I think but never had the Ct scan, but wathcing Opera when she had that heart ultrasound episode, it was interesting how in dept the ultrasound was to gathering images of her heart. Is that the same projection the CT scan would give as the Ultrasound. I'm going into Radiology and I'm reading and doing researches on what's best and I'm confuse it so many machines. I'm trying to learn everything possible about the test and machines in Radiology. and to select which area in Radiology I should choose. give me your opinions please................

Answer 1

From a technical viewpoint MRI without a doubt. As ultrasound cannot penetrate bone, its not used much in brain imaging. With CT you have the problem of ionizing radiation. Also changing the way MRI machine collects images allow you make different tissues look bright or dark, making it easier to see the type of tissue you are interested in. This is not possible with CT. fMRI is just MRI, but with less basis in fact.

From the point of a career it is not so clear. If you are interested in a lot of interaction with patients, then perhaps ultrasound is best. In both CT and MRI you will spend a lot of time sitting behind a computer while the patient sits some distance away in a tube. Also you need to ask yourself the following question: Am I happy working day after day being exposed to dangerous radiation. The actual risk is small, but if you don't feel comfortable with that, stick to Ultrasound or MRI.

Answer 2

Putting it in layman's terms, the best brain imaging technique that I work with is the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) because it needs no radioactive materials and produces images at a higher resolution than PETwhereas the PET requires radioactive materials to map certain functions of the brain. Ultrasound on the other hand is good for first stage assessment of lesions before surgery but CT scan is still the "standard" for solid or cystic type of lesions. Good luck with the field. It's very exciting!

Answer 3

An MRI will give you the clearest and most precise map of the brain. It will also detect things that other scans can't because it's done by a magnetism of blood vessels.