Mayo clinic?

Question

differents between a MRI, catscan, and Petscan?

Answer 1

MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, uses radio frequency signals and magnets to provide images of non-calcified tissue (soft tissues, not bones).

CT, or cat scan, uses specialized x-rays for making images of bones and (with the help of a contrast medium) vessels and bowel.

PET scan shows images of how the tissues and organs inside your body are functioning. A radioactive tracer is injected and the scanner shows the energy given off.

The PET scan shows the cellular level metabolic changes occurring in an organ or tissue. It can detect these early changes but a CT or MRI wouldn't detect them until the changes occur in the structure of organs or tissues.

CT uses sophisticated x-ray combined with a computer.
MRI uses a magnetic field with a contrast medium.
PET uses a radioactive tracer to scan activity. This test is used to complement the information obtained from CT or MRI scans.

PET shows how the body is functioning. CT and MRI show the structure of the body.