A chest x-ray is taken as you stand in front of the camera; it's taken the long way and as you look at it you see things exactly where they are in your body as if you were looking in a mirror. A CT scan uses a cylindrical tube where you lie and are slowly drawn into the machine and then out. The pictures are taken in slices as if someone were slicing you across your body. When you look at them, you look at them as if you were looking from above your body actually looking down, so you see your lungs from the top of the lungs going down. An MRI also uses a cylindrical machine, but uses sound and magnets to create the picture. When you see the results of an MRI, it's like looking at a picture of whatever with enough detail to distinguish bone from muscle, fat and tendons and it's as if someone shot a picture showing the whole inside.

The X-ray has the least detail, the CT scan more and the MRI is incredibly detailed. If you don't know what's being done, ask. If you don't know why it's being done, ask. If you don't know what they're looking for, ask.

Hi Liellen...a Cat scan (chest scan) gives a more detailed look at organs and soft tissue than just a xray....do not worry I have it done every few months.

good luck Liellen,your inour prayers

The phrases can be used interchangeably, @A MyCOPDTeam Member, so I can't provide better info. Do you have a copy of the doctor’s orders?

It may say, MRI scan or CT scan or chest x-ray.

Some of the scans take longer than others as they are more detailed x-ray methods. If you haven’t double checked with your doc or his admin, don’t hesitate to talk to him or her to get clarification if the testing paperwork doesn’t tell you exactly what type of test you’re having done. Good luck.

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Thank you Jean-good info!