Burgess Diagnostics Ltd

Which modality should you choose - MRI or CT?

When a patient requires cross-sectional imaging for evaluation of a particular body part, a veterinary team have a choice between Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The easy reference table below details the capabilities of each modality when considering specific anatomic regions. Please note this is a representation of the capabilities of each modality and is not an exhaustive list.

Download the Which Modality - Reference Guide

If you would like to discuss a case before imaging, for advice on modality selection, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at clinicalservices@burgessdiagnostics.com

Region
Central Nervous System (CNS)
MRI
	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: BRAIN Intracranial Disease Intracranial Vascular Disease Meningitis Encephalitis Haemorrhage Oedema Epilepsy Hydrocephalus Metastasis Cranial Nerve Disease Degenerative Brain Disease Foramen Magnum Herniation IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: SPINE Intervertebral Disc Disease Degenerative Myelopathy Meningitis Diskospondylitis Haemorrhage FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Emboli) Syringomyelia Neoplasia Arachnoid Cysts Wobbler Syndrome Lumbar Sacral Disease Trauma to the Spine Atlanto-occipital Subluxation
CT
	BRAIN Hydrocephalus Contrast Enhancing Lesions SPINE CT Myelography can be used to identify significant sites of spinal cord compression Vertebral Body Trauma Vertebral Body Neoplasia
Nasal cavities, sinuses, oral, optic
MRI
	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Masticatory Myositis Foreign Body
CT
	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Foreign Body Dental Imaging CT Guided Biopsies
External, middle and inner ears
MRI
	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Cranial Nerves VII VIII Semi-circular Canals
CT
	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Semi-circular Canals
Thorax
MRI
	Mediastinal Mass Thoracic Wall Mass
CT
	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Metastasis Pneumothorax Foreign Body Abscess CT Guided Biopsy
Abdomen & Pelvic Region
MRI
	Neoplasia Prostate Hips Ilio-psoas Injury Adrenals Cysts
CT
	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Bladder Ectopic Ureters IVU (Intravenous Urography) Portosystemic Shunts Renal Cysts Abscess Lymphadenopathy Liver Pathology
Extremity joints
MRI
	Medial Shoulder Injury Bone Enema Osteochondritis Arthrograms Muscular Injuries Elbow Dysplasia Cruciate Ligaments Meniscal Injury Cartilage Pathology Neoplasia Foreign Body
CT
	Multiple joints in one session Angular Limb Deformity Scans for 3D printing for fracture repair planning Elbow Dysplasia Neoplasia Osseous Disease Foreign Body
Patients with metallic implants
MRI
	Although most implants are non-ferrous and safe for MRI, they must be discussed with Burgess Diagnostics. Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.
CT
	Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.

Region
Central Nervous System (CNS)
MRI	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: BRAIN Intracranial Disease Intracranial Vascular Disease Meningitis Encephalitis Haemorrhage Oedema Epilepsy Hydrocephalus Metastasis Cranial Nerve Disease Degenerative Brain Disease Foramen Magnum Herniation IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: SPINE Intervertebral Disc Disease Degenerative Myelopathy Meningitis Diskospondylitis Haemorrhage FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Emboli) Syringomyelia Neoplasia Arachnoid Cysts Wobbler Syndrome Lumbar Sacral Disease Trauma to the Spine Atlanto-occipital Subluxation
CT	BRAIN Hydrocephalus Contrast Enhancing Lesions SPINE CT Myelography can be used to identify significant sites of spinal cord compression Vertebral Body Trauma Vertebral Body Neoplasia
Nasal cavities, sinuses, oral, optic
MRI	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Masticatory Myositis Foreign Body
CT	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Foreign Body Dental Imaging CT Guided Biopsies
External, middle and inner ears
MRI	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Cranial Nerves VII VIII Semi-circular Canals
CT	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Semi-circular Canals
Thorax
MRI	Mediastinal Mass Thoracic Wall Mass
CT	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Metastasis Pneumothorax Foreign Body Abscess CT Guided Biopsy
Abdomen & Pelvic Region
MRI	Neoplasia Prostate Hips Ilio-psoas Injury Adrenals Cysts
CT	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Bladder Ectopic Ureters IVU (Intravenous Urography) Portosystemic Shunts Renal Cysts Abscess Lymphadenopathy Liver Pathology
Extremity joints
MRI	Medial Shoulder Injury Bone Enema Osteochondritis Arthrograms Muscular Injuries Elbow Dysplasia Cruciate Ligaments Meniscal Injury Cartilage Pathology Neoplasia Foreign Body
CT	Multiple joints in one session Angular Limb Deformity Scans for 3D printing for fracture repair planning Elbow Dysplasia Neoplasia Osseous Disease Foreign Body
Patients with metallic implants
MRI	Although most implants are non-ferrous and safe for MRI, they must be discussed with Burgess Diagnostics. Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.
CT	Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.

Region
Central Nervous System (CNS)
MRI	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: BRAIN Intracranial Disease Intracranial Vascular Disease Meningitis Encephalitis Haemorrhage Oedema Epilepsy Hydrocephalus Metastasis Cranial Nerve Disease Degenerative Brain Disease Foramen Magnum Herniation IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: SPINE Intervertebral Disc Disease Degenerative Myelopathy Meningitis Diskospondylitis Haemorrhage FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Emboli) Syringomyelia Neoplasia Arachnoid Cysts Wobbler Syndrome Lumbar Sacral Disease Trauma to the Spine Atlanto-occipital Subluxation
CT	BRAIN Hydrocephalus Contrast Enhancing Lesions SPINE CT Myelography can be used to identify significant sites of spinal cord compression Vertebral Body Trauma Vertebral Body Neoplasia
Nasal cavities, sinuses, oral, optic
MRI	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Masticatory Myositis Foreign Body
CT	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Foreign Body Dental Imaging CT Guided Biopsies
External, middle and inner ears
MRI	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Cranial Nerves VII VIII Semi-circular Canals
CT	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Semi-circular Canals
Thorax
MRI	Mediastinal Mass Thoracic Wall Mass
CT	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Metastasis Pneumothorax Foreign Body Abscess CT Guided Biopsy
Abdomen & Pelvic Region
MRI	Neoplasia Prostate Hips Ilio-psoas Injury Adrenals Cysts
CT	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Bladder Ectopic Ureters IVU (Intravenous Urography) Portosystemic Shunts Renal Cysts Abscess Lymphadenopathy Liver Pathology
Extremity joints
MRI	Medial Shoulder Injury Bone Enema Osteochondritis Arthrograms Muscular Injuries Elbow Dysplasia Cruciate Ligaments Meniscal Injury Cartilage Pathology Neoplasia Foreign Body
CT	Multiple joints in one session Angular Limb Deformity Scans for 3D printing for fracture repair planning Elbow Dysplasia Neoplasia Osseous Disease Foreign Body
Patients with metallic implants
MRI	Although most implants are non-ferrous and safe for MRI, they must be discussed with Burgess Diagnostics. Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.
CT	Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.

Region	MRI	CT
Central Nervous System (CNS)	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: BRAIN Intracranial Disease Intracranial Vascular Disease Meningitis Encephalitis Haemorrhage Oedema Epilepsy Hydrocephalus Metastasis Cranial Nerve Disease Degenerative Brain Disease Foramen Magnum Herniation IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE: SPINE Intervertebral Disc Disease Degenerative Myelopathy Meningitis Diskospondylitis Haemorrhage FCE (Fibrocartilaginous Emboli) Syringomyelia Neoplasia Arachnoid Cysts Wobbler Syndrome Lumbar Sacral Disease Trauma to the Spine Atlanto-occipital Subluxation	BRAIN Hydrocephalus Contrast Enhancing Lesions SPINE CT Myelography can be used to identify significant sites of spinal cord compression Vertebral Body Trauma Vertebral Body Neoplasia
Nasal cavities, sinuses, oral, optic	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Masticatory Myositis Foreign Body	Neoplasia Osteomyelitis Aspergillosis Palatine Destruction Foreign Body Dental Imaging CT Guided Biopsies
External, middle and inner ears	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Cranial Nerves VII VIII Semi-circular Canals	Tympanic Bulla Wall Erosion Neoplasia Lymphadenopathy Semi-circular Canals
Thorax	Mediastinal Mass Thoracic Wall Mass	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Metastasis Pneumothorax Foreign Body Abscess CT Guided Biopsy
Abdomen & Pelvic Region	Neoplasia Prostate Hips Ilio-psoas Injury Adrenals Cysts	IMAGING MODALITY OF CHOICE Neoplasia Bladder Ectopic Ureters IVU (Intravenous Urography) Portosystemic Shunts Renal Cysts Abscess Lymphadenopathy Liver Pathology
Extremity joints	Medial Shoulder Injury Bone Enema Osteochondritis Arthrograms Muscular Injuries Elbow Dysplasia Cruciate Ligaments Meniscal Injury Cartilage Pathology Neoplasia Foreign Body	Multiple joints in one session Angular Limb Deformity Scans for 3D printing for fracture repair planning Elbow Dysplasia Neoplasia Osseous Disease Foreign Body
Patients with metallic implants	Although most implants are non-ferrous and safe for MRI, they must be discussed with Burgess Diagnostics. Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.	Implants inserted within the area of interest may cause artefacts and provide non-diagnostic studies.

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