Is CT or MRI better for lung cancer examination? Detailed description of the specific diagnosis method of lung cancer

Is CT or MRI better for lung cancer screening?

When lung cancer is suspected, chest CT scan should be the first choice. Lung cancer examination or chest CT scan is better. Some people think that MRI is more expensive than CT and has better results, but this is not the case.

Advantages of Chest CT:

1) High resolution, capable of detecting small lesions.

2) It can clearly display the characteristics of the tumor, such as location, size, shape, density, etc., and can also display the condition of adjacent tissues.

3) The CT machines currently in use have extremely fast scanning speeds and can complete a full lung scan in a few seconds, even if the patient cannot hold his breath.

4) It can display masses that are difficult to show on chest X-rays, such as the apex of the lung, beside the spine or behind the heart, and at the posterior costophrenic angle.

5) Enhanced CT scan can clearly show the mediastinum, hilar lymph nodes and pulmonary blood vessels.

6) CT-guided lung puncture biopsy can be performed to further clarify the diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses the mutual resonance of hydrogen protons in the human body in a magnetic field to form images through a computer. It can scan at any angle, and its biggest advantage is in the examination of soft tissues of the brain, spine, and spinal canal. However, the lungs have more gas and fewer hydrogen protons, so the nuclear magnetic resonance signal is very weak, and its display of lung lesions is often unclear, especially insensitive to calcification.

In addition, in order to eliminate artifacts caused by heartbeat and breathing, ECG gating and respiratory gating are required during scanning, which prolongs the scanning time. The overall scanning time is about 20 minutes or more, which is much longer than CT scanning. Many patients cannot tolerate it. Therefore, it is usually not recommended. Therefore, CT is better for lung cancer examination.