When your healthcare provider recommends an imaging test, it’s natural to wonder why they chose one

When your healthcare provider recommends an imaging test, it’s natural to wonder why they chose one over another.

Maybe your friend had an MRI for a shoulder injury, but you’ve been scheduled for an ultrasound. Or perhaps you expected an ultrasound and instead received an order for an MRI. How do you know which is right for you?

At Invision Sally Jobe, we perform both MRI and ultrasound examinations because each provides different information. Rather than one test being “better” than the other, they’re designed to answer different clinical questions. 

Your provider selects the imaging study that offers the clearest picture of what’s causing your symptoms.

What does an ultrasound show?

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of structures inside the body.

Unlike X-rays and CT scans, ultrasound doesn’t use ionizing radiation. It’s also unique because it captures movement as it happens, allowing your provider to observe muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood flow, and other soft tissues while they’re functioning.

Depending on your symptoms, ultrasound may be used to evaluate:

• Tendons, muscles, and ligaments
• Soft tissue lumps or swelling
• Blood vessels and circulation
• Abdominal and pelvic organs
• Pregnancy and fetal development
• Certain thyroid and breast concerns

At Invision Sally Jobe, we also offer musculoskeletal ultrasound, which allows our radiologists to evaluate many injuries involving muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints in real time.

What does an MRI show?

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce highly detailed images of your body’s internal structures.

MRI is particularly valuable when providers need exceptionally detailed views of soft tissues, joints, the brain, spine, or internal organs.

An MRI may help evaluate conditions involving:

• The brain and spinal cord
• Ligaments, cartilage, and joints
• Herniated discs
• Sports injuries
• Certain tumors or inflammatory conditions
• Internal organs and other complex anatomy

Because MRI produces highly detailed images in multiple planes, it often helps answer questions that other imaging tests cannot.

Is one test more accurate?

No. Each test reveals different information, and they have some overlapping capabilities.

An ultrasound may be the ideal choice for evaluating a rotator cuff tendon while it moves. An MRI may provide more comprehensive information about the shoulder joint when your provider suspects multiple structures are involved.

Likewise, ultrasound excels at evaluating blood flow and many abdominal or pelvic conditions, while MRI provides exceptional detail for the brain, spine, and many musculoskeletal injuries.

The “right” test depends entirely on what your provider is trying to diagnose.

Sometimes they work together

In some situations, ultrasound answers every question. In others, your provider may recommend an MRI after an ultrasound if additional detail is needed. That doesn’t mean the first test failed.

Instead, each examination contributes different information. Together, they can provide a more complete understanding of what’s causing your symptoms and help guide the next steps in your care.

What should you expect?

Both exams are noninvasive, but the experience is quite different.

During an ultrasound, a sonographer places warm gel on your skin and moves a handheld device called a transducer over the area being examined. 

The exam is generally comfortable, and because it produces images in real time, the technologist may ask you to change positions or move the affected area during the study.

An MRI involves lying still on a padded table that moves into the MRI scanner while the machine captures a series of detailed images. The exam is painless, although the scanner makes loud tapping or knocking sounds, and remaining still is essential for obtaining clear images.

Before either examination, our team explains exactly what to expect and answers any questions you may have.

Helping your provider find answers

The goal of imaging is to provide your healthcare provider with the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

At Invision Sally Jobe, our board-certified radiologists interpret both MRI and ultrasound studies using advanced imaging technology and work closely with referring providers to deliver timely, accurate results.

If your provider recommends an MRI or an ultrasound, call Invision Sally Jobe at 720-493-3700 to schedule an appointment at one of our Colorado locations.