A CT scanner sends X-ray beams through the body as it moves through an arc taking many pictures. A CT scan sees different levels of density and tissues inside a solid organ, and can provide detailed information about the body, including the head (brain and its vessels, eyes, inner ear, and sinuses), chest (heart and lungs), skeletal system (neck, shoulders and spine), pelvis and hips, reproductive systems, bladder and gastrointestinal tract.
Advances in CT scanning include increased patient comfort, faster scanning times and higher resolution images. As scans become quicker, X-ray exposure has decreased, providing better images at lower doses. The average CT scan today exposes patients to less radiation than what airline passengers receive on long flights. That said, anyone having a CT scan should talk to their doctor about the risks from radiation exposure versus the benefits of early diagnosis.
Unlike CT scans, which use X-rays, MRI scans use powerful magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and other internal body structures. Differences between normal and abnormal tissue is often clearer on an MRI image than a CT. And while there is no radiation involved in an MRI scan, it can be a noisy exam and takes longer than a CT. A specially trained radiologist can interpret either scan, helping to achieve a quick and accurate diagnosis.
Whatever scan you have, Wooster Community Hospital’s local radiologists will provide the necessary hands-on patient care and our subspecialty radiologists work to deliver timely and accurate diagnoses. Wooster Community Hospital has partnered with the Radisphere National Radiology Group to provide comprehensive radiology coverage through a combination of local onsite radiologists and a remote network of subspecialists who work together to deliver final reports around the clock.