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During this second wave of pandemic in our country, there have been several cases where the RT-PCR test is yielding false negatives. Many patients are being advised CT scans by doctors if the RT-PCR is negative, but the patient still shows symptoms of COVID. In many cases, this has given good results - doctors have found that the patient's lungs are completely covered by white patches, which are indicative of the virus residing and multiplying there.
Yesterday, the Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said, as per a news article, that CT is being "misused" during this period, adding that one CT is equivalent to 300-400 chest X-rays, and in younger people, too many CT scans throughout their lives may lead to cancer in later life.
Fine, I understand that. On the other hand, MRI, which uses an entirely different technology based on NMR, probably has lesser long-term side effects.
Can MRI be used to detect COVID infection in the lungs instead of CT or simple chest X-ray?
Yesterday, the Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said, as per a news article, that CT is being "misused" during this period, adding that one CT is equivalent to 300-400 chest X-rays, and in younger people, too many CT scans throughout their lives may lead to cancer in later life.
Fine, I understand that. On the other hand, MRI, which uses an entirely different technology based on NMR, probably has lesser long-term side effects.
Can MRI be used to detect COVID infection in the lungs instead of CT or simple chest X-ray?