Advantages of head MRI

• MRI does not use ionizing radiation, and is thus preferred over CT in children and patients requiring multiple imaging examinations
• MRI has a much greater range of available soft tissue contrast, depicts anatomy in greater detail, and is more sensitive and specific for abnormalities within the brain itself
• MRI scanning can be performed in any imaging plane without having to physically move the patient
• MRI contrast agents have a considerably smaller risk of causing potentially lethal allergic reaction
• MRI allows the evaluation of structures that may be obscured by artifacts from bone in CT images

Advantages of head CT

• CT is much faster than MRI, making it the study of choice in cases of trauma and other acute neurological emergencies
• CT can be obtained at considerably less cost than MRI, and is sufficient to exclude many neurological disorders
• CT is less sensitive to patient motion during the examination. because the imaging can be performed much more rapidly
• CT may be easier to perform in claustrophobic or very heavy patients
• CT provides detailed evaluation of cortical bone
• CT allows accurate detection of calcification and metal foreign bodies
• CT can be performed at no risk to the patient with implantable medical devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, ferromagnetic vascular clips, and nerve stimulators