CT Scans v. MRIs

What are the mechanisms involved? What is the difference? Why are they so expensive? I can't be the only one who is considering these things.

CT Scans

“Computed Tomography,” or “Computerized Tomography.” I don't think that they've made up their minds yet. You may remember, like I do, that these were once called CAT Scans, which would be “Computerized Axial Tomography.” That cat thing is out of fashion now.

These are just fancy X-ray machines. All modern X-ray machines are computerized to some extent, but there's probably a difference. Maybe I should look up tomography. The point is, the mechanism by which a CT Scan creates an image is X-rays.

That's why they do their work so quickly, making things a lot easier for the patient. They do a much better job of illustrating bones and other hard tissue. They're not much good for soft tissue inquiries. X-ray machines in general are using a lot less X-ray than in the old days, so it's probably not enough to worry about. About the same as a long plane flight probably. That's just a guess.

Sources all say that CT Scans are cheaper than MRIs, but then they all give about the same range of prices for both things: between $1,200 and $3- to $4,000. (See note below re: prices.)

MRIs

“Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” These create an image by building up a powerful magnetic field and then launching high-frequency radio pulses through that field. This all takes a while, and the patient is required to show great patience while laying in the close-fitting tube for a half of an hour or so, without moving. Then there's the booming noise. I've never had an MRI, and I'm not looking forward to the eventuality.

MRIs do a great job of imaging soft tissue, like muscles and internal organs. They'll give the docs the location of the bones, but not as much detail on the hard tissue as the CT Scan. Great care must be taken to avoid placing anything made from metal into the tube with the patient. That would be a metal fork in the microwave moment. This includes Pacemakers and piercings, so there's that to consider.

Sources give the price range for both procedures as being very close, with the upper range for MRIs exceeding that for CT Scans by about one third. Neither the magnetic field nor the radio pulses have the power to hurt you, so anyone overly concerned about X-rays might consider that.

MRIs and Tattoos

Here's where mourning becomes electra. Here's where it gets weird. It turns out that any tattoo from more than twenty years ago is liable to have metal particles in some of the ink. My guess is that the black ink would be the worst offender. As one recedes in time, past twenty to thirty years ago, and on to forty, the likelihood of encountering metal increases. My own tattoo, for instance, is forty-six years old, so it's probably full of metal.

These tattoos can exhibit terrible reactions to the magnetic field, ranging from a mild burning sensation, up through considerable pain, and on to great pain with some flashing and scarring. I had never heard this one before. Forewarned is forearmed, however, so if the situation comes up I can mention it to the doctor. It's a very rare doctor who will listen to you regarding medical matters, but they do exist.

Hipsters, take note.

Prices

It turns out that they are so expensive because both hospitals and medical insurance companies are now run on a for-profit basis, even the ones that still call themselves non-profits, and they work together to gouge the patient, and each other, for as much as possible in every situation.

The price of an identical MRI in any particular medical marketplace will vary wildly depending on such factors as the income of the patient, the health insurance carried by the patient, the identity of the payer, and many other factors that are unknown to me, being mysteries of the modern medical-industrial complex. If the estimates are accurate at all, you could be charged anywhere between $1,200 and $4,000 for the identical procedure on the identical machine. I would bet the afore mentioned tattoo that the upper range is subject to wild spikes.

If you are a careful shopper, there is an easy work-around for this price gouging.

Doctors are now firmly in the category of “disposable workers.” With tuition being so high, many doctors graduate with frightening levels of debt. Hospitals pay doctors as little as possible. Some doctors do the math and realize that they could set up some kind of business of their own and make twice as much money while doing less than half as much work. One way to do this is to invest in an MRI machine and set yourself up in a strip mall near a large population center. “Garden State Imaging Center” or something. This is totally legal.

Many of the doctors who do this are merely clever, but others come from one of the many minorities in America. They get sick of patients up at the hospital asking for “the white doctor” all the time.

If your own doctor is worth his salt, he'll tell you about a good MRI mill himself. You can find them on your own without much trouble, because, like I say, it's legal. You then get a specific prescription from your doctor requesting the MRI and giving all of the information necessary to get a result that is useful. Just make an appointment, and the fully board-certified doctor at the MRI center will do the imaging. You get the results, probably on a CD, and take it back to your doctor for a reading. These private MRI clinics charge under one thousand dollars, so the savings can be considerable.

My Dedication to Public Service

I don't make a nickel on this blog, and if you take a quick look at the history over on the right side you will have to agree that writing it has been a whole lot of work. Mostly, I write all of this prose because it helps to knock down the general level of negative ideation that I must deal with on a daily basis. There is also, however, an element of the pure, kind-hearted desire to be useful to my fellow Americans.

My sincerest desire is that someone among the couple of dozen people who may read this post found it informative in a way that was helpful.