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How to Choose Medical Imaging Among X-ray, Type-B Ultrasonic, MRI and CT Scan

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ivan chen

You may heard of some medical examination such as X-ray, type-B ultrasonic, MRI, and CT scan, but what exactly are they and what’s the difference between them?

Everyone, from child to adult, has probably been to the hospital many times and learnd something about X-ray, type-B ultrasonic, MRI, and CT scan. But few can tell the difference between them. As different types of diagnostic imaging exams, what are their imaging principles and differences? What are their advantages and disadvantages? Which body parts are they suitable for examination? This article will help you to get an overview of these imaging exams in vivid metaphors.

X-rays pass through the human body and whenever it encounters a blocked part, the film will not be exposed. After the film is processed, this part will be white. The physical examination X-ray is like seeing a piece of bread or a piece of cotton. The fiber texture inside cannot be seen, but it will be clearer if it is squashed.

X-ray exam is convenient and fast with a low cost. While the disadvantage is that it is necessary to take X-rays from multiple angles to avoid insufficient diagnostics due to the overlap of the shadow in different parts.

  • Type-B ultrasonic

The principle of type-B ultrasonic is to use ultrasound to penetrate the human body. When sound waves encounter human tissues, reflected waves are generated, and the reflected waves are calculated for imaging. The type-B ultrasonic is like picking a watermelon, listening to the echo while tapping, which is also a bit like the sonar system used by bats and submarines.

Type-B ultrasonic has advantages such as multi-directional observation and real-time imaging. But it is greatly interfered by gas, so the diagnostic accuracy of the intestines and other organs with a lot of gas is often reduced.

  • CT scan

The principle of CT scan is that the rays pass through the human body in layers, and then the secondary imaging is calculated by the computer, which is like cutting bread into slices. It can be layered and can show more organizational information. But the cost is more expensive than X-ray, and the radiation dose of a CT scan is higher than a single X-ray.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a stronger magnetic field to make the magnetic field lines of all the atoms in the human body have the same direction, and then the magnetic field suddenly disappears and the atoms suddenly return to their original random arrangement. MRI simply refers to shaking the body to make the atoms vibrate, then calm down, feel the vibration inside, and then take an image.

Compared with CT scan, there is no radiation in MRI, and the imaging is more comprehensive with a high degree of soft tissue resolution. However, its cost is relatively expensive, and people with metal objects in the body cannot be detected.

During medical treatment or physical examination, doctors often use a variety of imaging exams and many patients will wonder why they have to pay for different high-priced checklists. In fact, different parts and different problems require different imaging inspection methods.

  • Skeletal trauma

For all kinds of trauma, if bones are suspected to be injured, X-ray are preferred, and the examination results are quick and easy. For further observation, you can choose CT scan. Ultrasound and MRI can't make clear the situation of the bones, cortex, and medulla, so they are generally not selected.

  • Cervical and lumbar spine

Cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation and other intervertebral disc diseases require to observe the nerves related to them. To observe these soft tissues more clearly, the best choice is MRI. Similarly, for joint, muscle, and adipose tissue examination, MRI is also the first choice.

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