Comparison Between CT and MRI in Diagnosing Abdominal Diseases

Abstract

Various modalities such as CT and MRI are very vital in the diagnosis of abdominal diseases. Both these techniques are widely used, however they differ in their characteristics, mechanisms and advantages. This is because CT scans are very useful in the emergency unit as they enable the doctor to identify and analyze acute conditions like abdominal trauma, appendicitis and bowel obstruction. They are capable of giving detailed images within the shortest time hence helping in the decision-making process in the intensive care units. MRI is highly regarded than CT because it gives better soft tissue differentiation and is useful in evaluation of subacute-chronic diseases including liver cirrhosis, pancreatic cancer and inflammatory diseases. The major advantage of MRI over CT is that it does not use ionising radiation therefore safe for patients who may need frequent examinations such as pediatrics and pregnant women. The paper seeks to present the differences between CT and MRI in the diagnosis of the abdominal diseases, the advantages and disadvantages of each technique as well as clinical applications. In this way, understanding the particular uses of each modality, the clinicians are able to make the best choices with regard to diagnostic procedures for patients. (1) However, with the development of technology, the application of both imaging techniques also develop and expand providing more options in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. (2)