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MRI or CT ?

GingerMay
GingerMay CSN Member Posts: 134
in Ovarian Cancer #1

Hi - My mother's doctor just ordered an abdominal CT scan as a follow up on some recurring symptoms from a number of years ago.  I'm doing some research on her behalf and have found everyone on these boards to be very informative. 

My current question is what is the benefit of doing a CT scan over an MRI? 

I've read CT scans expose patients to large amounts of radiation, and I want to follow up with this doctor and ask if an MRI could indicate similar conditions without risk of exposure.   Thanks for any insight.     

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  • abrub
    abrub CSN Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #2
    CTs and MRIs see the body differently

    Each test has its own advantage and shows a different type of tissue/tumor clearly - my recurrence was found by MRI, and only barely visible in a CT.  Normally I've been getting MRIs for the past few years, because generally with my cancer, both are comparable and I've wanted to avoid the radiation.  In November, however, I'm scheduled for both because the radiologist didn't like what she saw on my May MRI, and wants the comparison.  Hopefully, after this, I'll go back to MRIs only.

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