Patients who are anxious and confused over the variety of medical tests their doctors perform may find it helpful to understand the difference between the more common tests ordered by doctors. Two examples are the MRI and the PET scan.
MRI Description
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a test procedure that takes detailed images of the major areas of the body through use of a magnetic field and radio waves. The patient is placed in a machine that contains a strong magnet. The machine is usually long and tubular, although oftentimes only the body part that is being tested is enclosed in the tube.
MRI Uses
Doctors use MRIs to look at the head and brain for tumors, evidence of a stroke, eye damage and other head trauma. MRIs are also useful for finding disease and abnormalities in most organs. Bone and joint problems, such as arthritis, can be discovered through an MRI, as can blocked blood vessels, vein and artery problems and aneurysms.
PET Scan Description
PET stands for positron emission tomography. This test utilizes a substance called a tracer liquid that is introduced into the body intravenously. As the substance travels through the bloodstream, a camera tracks and records the locations of positively charged particles in the tracer.
PET Scan Uses
Doctors use the results from PET scans to diagnose and monitor diseases of the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, as well as heart disease. PET scans are also very helpful in discovering and monitoring the spread of many types of cancer.
Advantages Of Each
An MRI can take detailed pictures of a specific organ in the body, such as the brain or heart, or an entire body structure, such as blood vessels or the spine, whereas a PET scan gives a less detailed look at the body but is most helpful in determining organ function and blood flow.
Tags: blood vessels, Uses Doctors
