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Bone Scan vs. MRI: What’s the Best Imaging Tool?

Sep 3, 2018

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While a routine checkup with your doctor is critical in ensuring you’re in good health, you’ll sometimes need more complex procedures to detect potential diseases or infection that could be developing internally. A bone scan is an effective way to analyze any possible bone conditions that are developing. A bone scan can help spot potentially life-threatening conditions, such as bone infections and cancer, and treat them promptly and properly. A bone scan is just one imaging tool used to identify bone conditions in an individual. MRIs are also effective in producing internal images of the body that can be used to make proper diagnoses. Deciding which imaging tool is best for you all depends on your personal circumstances. Continue reading to learn the differences between bone scans and MRIs and which tool for advanced diagnostic imaging in Long Island, NY, makes the most sense for you.

Bone Scan

If you’ve been dealing with daily bone pain in your feet, hands, arms, or anywhere else, a bone scan can help locate the source of the issue. With the ability to detect osteoblasts using radioactive tracers, this imaging tool can spot areas in your bones that may be at risk for infection or disease. Catching small infections and fractures early on is crucial when it comes to getting proper treatment. A proper bone scan gives you total peace of mind for your health, so take the time that is needed to have a bone scan every so often.

MRI

While a traditional bone scan may be a more affordable option, it can sometimes fall short of providing doctors with a detailed image of the area being scanned. That’s where an MRI can be extremely beneficial. Using sophisticated magnetic fields, MRIs generate 3-D images of the body and its internal organs and structures. This allows doctors to pinpoint any harmful conditions that may be developing internally more precisely. Since doctors are given more information to work with, they can provide a more accurate diagnosis that ensures you have nothing to fear. MRIs should only be administered by experienced professionals that always act with your best interests in mind. Speak with your doctor about your personal concerns, as they can help determine what your best course of action is.

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Alternative Imaging Tools

If you have a specific condition that you want individualized treatment for, you’ll want to explore all your options. Ultrasounds, X-rays, and CT scans are all proven imaging tools that patients have had success with in the past. Each one of these imaging tools uses a specific technology that helps determine what’s happening inside your body. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, so do your homework to ensure you go with the imaging tool that is best suited for you.

If you're in need of a diagnostic imaging center in Long Island, NY, visit Peconic Bay Medical Center's website, https://www.pbmchealth.org to learn more about the services they offer.