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Which is better - an MRI or a CT scan for the brain?

An MRI and a CT scan have unique uses; while a brain MRI provides more detail, it may not always be appropriate.

  • A CT scan is very effective at diagnosing bleeding inside the brain and damage to the bones of the skull. Waiting for an MRI in these situations is dangerous as treatments need to be started quickly.
  • A CT scan can also look for blockages of the blood vessels in patients that may be having a stroke. This allows rapid treatment that would be impossible if neurologists waited for an MRI.

In some cases the greater detail provided by an MRI is essential.

  •  Looking for a cause of seizures requires detail that a CT scan cannot provide.
  • Planning for surgical procedures on the brain, such as those required to remove a brain tumor, also require the detail provided by MRI.
  • Diagnosing diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological diseases that commonly occur in the elderly requires a high amount of detail only found in specialized MRI scans.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of ACA compliant major medical plans. Coverage and plan options vary and may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.