CT Scan vs MRI: Which One Do You Need and Why?
Quick answer: a CT scan uses x-rays and is fast (often just seconds of scanning, usually done within 30 minutes), […]
Imaging Test
What to Expect During a CT Scan
Quick answer: a CT scan is fast and painless. You lie on a narrow table that moves through a short, […]
Knee MRI: What It Can Detect
Quick answer: a knee MRI shows the bones, cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, tendons, muscles and blood vessels of the knee in […]
Full-Body MRI Scans: Are They Worth the Money?
Quick answer: for most healthy adults with no symptoms and no special risk, probably not, at least not yet. A […]
Lumbar Spine MRI: What to Expect
Quick answer: a lumbar spine MRI takes detailed pictures of your lower back, including the vertebrae, discs, spinal nerves and […]
Brain MRI: What It Shows and How to Prepare
Quick answer: a brain MRI (also called a head MRI) uses a strong magnet and radio waves, not radiation, to […]
Can You Have an MRI With Metal Implants, Tattoos or a Pacemaker?
Quick answer: in most cases, yes. Joint replacements, plates, screws and dental work are generally not a safety problem, and […]
Why Is an MRI So Loud, and Can You Listen to Music?
Quick answer: an MRI is loud because powerful electrical currents switch on and off inside coils within the scanner. In […]
Claustrophobic in an MRI? 12 Tips That Actually Help (Plus Open MRI Options)
Quick answer: feeling anxious in an MRI is very common, but most claustrophobic patients complete their scan. Tell the imaging […]
MRI With vs Without Contrast: Differences, Risks and Cost
Quick answer: an MRI with contrast includes an injection of a gadolinium-based agent into a vein, which makes certain tissues […]