My new doctor was surprised that my previous doctor only had me get a CT scan when my symptoms first started 4 years ago. He said that's not good enough. Now me wants me to go in for an MRI. I am not very familiar with the difference between the two tests. What might a MRI show that a CT scan wouldn't?
You should also have had a high resolution ct for possible SCD or PLF. The regular scan won't pick those up.
An MRI shows soft tissue stuff. It's much more expensive, which is why some doctors won't script it (they know your insurance won't cover it). Here is an explanation of the differences. http://www.diffen.com/difference/CT_Scan_vs_MRI
During initial investigation an MRI is standard procedure to rule out many serious conditions which can cause vertigo or unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. It can show the internal auditory canal and exclude the presence of tumours. It can also check that other areas of the brain are structurally normal and help to exclude brain tumours and multiple sclerosis. It is very surprising that your previous doctor didn’t order one!
^^ absolutely right. MRI is needed to rule out other conditions such as an acoustic neuroma, which can in time be life threatening. I know I had one. 10 years later i had cochlear hydrops, aka atypical or early menieres. It is very risky for a dr to assume these kind of symptoms are mm without further investigation of which the mri is the one of the first tools.
Thanks all! This just makes me even more glad I switched doctors. I never realized getting just the CT scan was not sufficient! Kind of scary.