All the pretty pictures
CT scans can speed a diagnosis and make it more accurate, but there's also cost and radiation to worry about.
The economy is in a downturn, but these are boom times for medical imaging. Old-fashioned film x-rays have their place. Doctors still x-ray bones to see if they are broken and order chest x-rays to diagnose pneumonia. But now radiologists — doctors that specialize in making diagnoses from medical imaging — have plenty of other ways to peek inside the human body to get a picture of what's going on. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces brilliant images of the brain, spine, and soft tissues around joints. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are emerging as a way to detect cancer and brain abnormalities. The number of computed tomography (CT) scans done each year in the United States has almost doubled since the late 1990s, so there are now some 60 million CT scans done each year.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
