Īn ultrasound exam offers the benefit of producing images quickly and in real time, so movement can easily be observed on ultrasound. As a result, MRI or another modality is generally recommended when doctors need to get a look at what's happening inside or behind bony structures or air-filled organs such as the lungs or bowel. However, ultrasound waves do not transmit well through bone or gas. īoth ultrasound and MRI can be useful in assessing the condition of organs and soft tissues such as breasts and blood vessels. Ultrasound technology, on the other hand, transmits high-frequency sound waves through the body, and a picture is created by detecting the echoes, much like the way bats or submarines use sonar. MRI accomplishes this by using a powerful magnet to cause the water molecules in the body to align in a way that the machine’s scanner detects and translates into a three-dimensional picture of what’s going on in the body. Understanding the differences between them and the strengths and limitations of each can give you insight into the reasons behind your doctor’s choice.īoth MRI and ultrasound have the advantage of allowing doctors to look inside the body without the use of ionizing radiation, which is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. Have you ever wondered why your doctor chooses to order one type of imaging over another? Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are two modalities that can sometimes be used for the same purposes.
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