Types of Scan

MRI Scans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method of acquiring images of the body's internal tissues and organs.

This wire is cooled to near absolute zero (nearly -270C), which results in zero resistance and superconductivity.

Open MRI scanners (left) have been developed for people who are anxious or obese or for examination of small parts of the body, such as the extremities (knee, shoulder). Instead of lying in a narrow tunnel, the imaging table has more space around the body.

CT Scans

CT (or CAT) stands for Computed Axial Tomography. CT scanning was invented in the 1970's and is now a standard imaging technique worldwide. It uses special x-ray equipment to obtain information that is then processed into detailed multi-dimensional images or slices.

These demonstrate soft tissues such as muscle, liver and lung as well as bone and blood vessels. Unlike any other imaging techniques, CT can show all the different types of tissues in the body at the same time.

PET Scans

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is the latest technology of oncological and neurological scanning. It provides images of anatomical structures and of metabolic activity, so adding moving sequences to still images.

This technology allows doctors to detect cancer earlier and to diagnose whether the disease has spread. It can also diagnose Alzheimer’s disease at a stage when it can be still controlled by medication and it can perform enhanced cardiological investigations.

Conventional MRI (right) has a tunnel shape, to accommodate a cylindrical coil of special wire, which creates the magnetic field.

The advantage of this technology is that the magnet strength can be very high, but it produces a lot of noise and it requires the patient to lie within a narrow tube.

Open MRI scanners can also image patients in different positions, which can avoid the need for exploratory surgery.

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