Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
Is an mri better than a ct scan for diagnosing back pain?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
MRI vs CT: A ct myelogram (where contrast is injected to highlight discs, nerves, etc) is comparable to a back mri. Orthopedic surgeons & neurologists have their preference. Both will do a thorough exam before recommending an imaging study. Conservative treatment with analgesics, muscle relaxers, physical therapy may be enough at first.
Answered 7/13/2017
5.8k views
It depends.....: Mri is better at diagnosing disk herniations and is more commonly ordered than ct for back pain. Ct is better at looking at the bony structure of the spine, though MRI is a close second.
Answered 6/10/2014
5.7k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
What could you see in a CT scan of the cervical spine that you could not see in an MRI?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Is it appropriate to have a CT or MRI scan if there is pain on the top of the head, both sides and back?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
What happens if a CT head scan comes back with normal results, is there a high chance that an MRI head scan be normal too?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
My CT scan came back "uniform soft tissue thickening in nasopharynx, been increasing since last scan in 2008". Should I be concerned? Waiting for MRI.
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
I had ct-pet scan and MRI on my enlarged thymus! they have not got back to me yet and its been over 6 weeks! what could it be thats takeing so long?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
People also searched for:
Mri with and without contrast and ct scan came back normal. Should I still worry about an unruptured aneurysm?
I feel unsteady/unbalanced and get dull headaches often. I had a CT scan taken and it came back normal. Should i get an MRI as well or is it a waste?
Wt test shld I do to pin pnt cause of dull but const pain in area in rght shlder blade and spine.Dl spn mri, chst scan, up GI endosc, CT abdmn done norma?
I had a CT scan 10 years ago due to headaches. It came back abnormal. It said a focal, well circumscribed area of low density is identified within the region of corpus. I did an MRI after that and the results were normal. Should I be worried?
What else would cause middle thoracic spine and cervical pain. I've had all MRI/CT scans?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
