CT vs MRI vs Convention Plain Film Flashcards
Requires at least 2 views 90 degrees from each other
Conventional Radiography
- Low cost
- widespread availability
- excellent skeletal images
Conventional Radiography
Disadvantages:
- Has ionizing radiation
- poorly visualizes soft tissue
- less sensitive to subtle pathology(stress fractures) than other methods
Conventional Radiography
Primary uses:
visualizing pathology of bones and joints
-monitoring fracture healing
-visualizing orthopedic hardware
Conventional Radiography
Produces cross-sectional images or slices of tissue using radiation
CT
Produces cross-sectional images or slices of tissue using strong magnetic field
MRI
Usually follows conventional radiography to confirm a diagnosis or further define pathology
CT
May be primary imaging modality in serious trauma as injuries to both osseous and soft tissue structures can be determined from imaging series
CT
Not first imaging choise; usually preceded by other modalities
MRI
First-order diagnostic imaging modality
Conventional Radiograph
Involve T1 and T2 imaging protocols
MRI
True or False: T2 is good at visualizing anatomical detail and has good resolution
False: this is the definition of T1
True or False: T1 would be used to view free water and edema
False: this is the definition of T2
Advantages:
-better contrast resolution than conventional raidography for both osseous and soft tissue
CT
Provides multiplanar images of tissue
CT
Scanning times are shorter
CT has shorter scanning times than MRI
Thinner slices
CT over MRI
2nd most expensive Modality
CT
Most expensive modality
MRI
Excellent soft tissue contrast with no ionizing radiation
MRI
Claustrophobia and obesity can be a problem with normal scanner; but there is also an open option that alleviates the problem
MRI
Long imaging time
MRI
Expensive
MRI
Differentiates between tissues based on radiodensities
CT
Superior soft tissue characterization
MRI
Superior osseous anatomy(despite Xray)
CT
Contraindicated in the presence of cardiac pacemakers
MRI
Primarily used to evaluate subtle or complex fractures of bone; showing bone fragments
CT
Evaluation of spinal arthritic changes and spinal stenosis
CT
Evaluation of loose bodies in a joint
CT
Evaluation of soft tissue
CT
Identifying and characterizing soft tissue injuries and pathology ; as well as bone pathology(especially if bone marrow changes are present)
MRI
Evaluation of hematomas and joint effusions
MRI
Intervertebral disk pathology: differentiation between disk herniation and other causes of impingement
MRI
Identifying and staging osteochondral fractures and osteochondritis dissecans
MRI
Early detection of stress fractures
MRI
May be used to detect fracture of bony lesions when other imaging modalities were unmarkable
Bone Scan
Highly sensitive modality; low specificity
Bone Scan
A viable alternative to MRI for evaluating msk soft tissue
ultrasound
Low cost and portability with no contraindications
ultrasound
Localizing bone tumors
bone scan
detecting metastases
bone scan
