A Review of Current Differences in Medical Imaging: Focus on MRI, CT, and DR

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and digital radiogra- phy (DR) are primary medical imaging technologies that act as core diagnostic tools needed in modern practices. But the public’s grasp of these technologies is often muddled, leading to several misunderstandings about their mechanism of action, uses and safety profiles. These modalities differ significantly in data acquisition and imaging principles, we will discuss the non-irradiant approach of MRI versus the radiation-based methods of CT and DR, we simulate the relaxation dynamics and imaging parameters to understand the uniqueness of each of the techniques, from superb soft tissue contrast of MRI, well-defined visualization of high-density structures in CT, and practical utility of a DR for fast diagnostics. In addition to healthcare described above, the potential use of X-ray and neutral particle beams for security screening and industrial imaging applications is also described, to give a wider view of the current status and future directions for these technologies.