An MRI allows a doctor to see inside your body without harming any of your soft tissues or bones. It creates detailed images of the body’s interior that can be used for a wide range of diagnostic purposes. Although similar to an x-ray, an MRI has a number of advantages, making it the better option in many cases. Read on to find out more.
No Radiation Risks
You are not at risk during an MRI, unlike when you have x-rays. During an x-ray, you are exposed to radiation waves (also referred to as ionizing radiation). The effects of ionizing radiation exposure can be very serious. These problems consist of:
- Nausea and diarrhea
- Deep burns into the body’s tissue
- Potential for infection
- Issues fighting infection
You won’t have to worry about experiencing these side effects if you choose to have an MRI with Express MRI instead of an x-ray.
Covers A Wider Area
Most of the time, an x-ray is only taken of a certain part of your body. For example, if you go to the doctor about your leg, an x-ray may be done on your ankle or knee.
The fact that an MRI can take pictures of more than one part of your body at once is one of its best features. A smaller imaging machine – like an x-ray – wouldn’t be able to look at as much of your body as an MRI can. This means you need fewer images taken to get an entire overview, so it takes less time and is easier to deal with.
Extremely Detailed Images
The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system can produce more detailed images than other imaging machines. MRI machines have the capability of producing very detailed images of the soft tissue that is located inside the body. Because of this, your doctor will be able to more accurately determine the source of your pain and discomfort than they would if they were using x-ray technology.
It’s A Non-Invasive Procedure
MRI is a non-invasive technique. One of the main concerns for patients undergoing imaging is whether the method is invasive or not – and whether it might hurt them. Although when you have an x-ray, you may need to be positioned in the right way to get a good image (which could hurt you), this won’t be the case with an MRI because it is a completely non-invasive procedure; the equipment can get an image no matter what position you are in.
This is a benefit that will keep you calm throughout the process and therefore help the procedure to be over much more quickly as a result (the more you move, the longer the MRI will take as the images won’t be as clear as they need to be).
Imaging techniques focus on providing images of the inside structure of body parts, but an MRI provides a more detailed image of the body’s inside structure. It allows the doctors to clearly analyze the situation and provide their analysis.
Final Thoughts
Although similar, there are certainly a number of advantages of MRI over x-ray. This is why, if you have the option, an MRI could be the ideal answer.
