Hi all,

Is it possible to have issues spinal issues come up through and X Ray but not in a MRI (namely brain and cervical scans)?

I've been diagnosed with C1 / C2 Joint dysfunction and chronic subluxation on L4 / L5. Possibly due to a congenial defect causing 15+ years of symptoms, mostly brain and left had side related.

Diagnosis was through a chiropractor (x rays) and I have 2 brain MRIs previously (both normal). I'm having a cervical MRI in the next week or so through my GP.

I'm not sure if the brain MRIs I've had previously included cervical. My fear is that it may come back normal and I'll be stuck at a dead end through my GP. He says that X Rays aren't great for diagnosing brain and spinal issues (not sure how correct this is).

Can the two tests show different results?

Thanks

Adey

Was the chiro upper cervical trained with special x ray for that on site?

I think the details of a MRI report often depends on how detailed /or rushed the tech is when reading the images..

That question deserves chapters not a paragraph or two. That said, besides two totally different technologies, xrays show more bony issues with the thought in mind that it's vintage is older and is limited to certain degrees but is cheap and a good place to start, imaging wise. MRI is more beneficial for soft tissue items like tumor, infection, disc hernia, etc. CT is like a multi dimensional super xray, also utilizing ionizing radiation while x-ray is mostly for bony issues. X-ray and CT are excellent for bony problems. Magnetic resonance is weird but simply stated spins your water molecules, releases them and then the radio waves that are emitted are picked up by coils and computed into multiple images; no ionizing radiation.

Short answer, yes they show different things (but of the same anatomy)!

That's great - thanks Dubious!