“Is an MRI safer than a CT scan?”
I am a 33-year-old female and I need to have a brain scan. Is an MRI safer than a CT scan?
5 Answers
MRI has no radiation and offers a better view of the brain as compared to a CT scan.
CT scans use X-rays while MRI scans use strong magnets and radio waves. A CT scan is generally good for larger areas, while an MRI scan produces a better overall image of the tissue under examination. Both have risks but are relatively safe procedures.
MRI is safer if you are pregnant. It also depends on your kidney function.
The biggest difference in safety is that CTs use radiation and MRIs only expose you to a magnetic field. Radiation is cumulative, magnetism is not. There are recommended limits on lifetime cumulative amounts of radiation that a person can be exposed to before they start to have problems. Because cumulative radiation can eventually cause cancer, yes, MRIs are less risk.
Yes, but there is no proven harm with either one. MRI shows more.
