Key takeaways:
- Each imaging test has different uses and limitations.
- X-rays are used in CT scans and mammograms.
- MRI is preferred for imaging soft tissues.
- Ezra scans offer comprehensive screening.
Many conditions can remain undetected until a major health incident occurs. For example, osteoporosis, a disease characterised by weakened bones, is often undiagnosed until a bone fracture occurs1.
Imaging plays an important role in modern medicine and the detection of serious health conditions earlier. Today’s most cutting-edge imaging techniques include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
But if you’re interested in being proactive about your health and getting a scan, where do you begin? Each technique is different in terms of the images gathered, the equipment it uses, and the tissue changes it may help find.
When selecting the right scan for your elective health screening, the choice between X-rays (CT and mammogram) and MRIs depends on the part of the body you are most concerned with, and considering the benefits and limitations of each technique.
X-Ray as a Type of Body Scan
X-rays are a type of high-frequency electromagnetic energy used in medical imaging.
When you are getting an X-ray, the technician will place the body part to be examined between the X-ray machine and a metal plate. X-rays are selectively affected by different tissues as they pass through your body. This causes shadows to appear in the resulting images2.
Why Don’t All Body Scans Use X-Rays?
X-rays aren’t ideal for the comprehensive types of body scan needed for multiple organ screening due to cumulative radiation exposure. In addition, like all imaging techniques, X-rays are better for imaging some areas than others2..
X-Ray Pros and Cons
X-rays are a non-invasive, generally painless, and well-established method to evaluate specific organs for changes that may indicate disease.
X-ray technology is also used in CT scans and mammography, which we’ll discuss separately below.
Beyond radiation exposure, there are other limitations in terms of diagnostic imaging. For one, typical X-rays aren’t great at spotting changes in soft tissue.
However, the CT scan and mammogram can use X-rays with specialised equipment and software that help them screen for diseases like breast cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, and more3.
3D Mammogram
When discussing types of body scans, it’s important to include yearly mammography for women over the age of 40.
3D mammography involves only a small amount of radiation exposure, even less than a standard chest X-ray.
In general, a mammogram can be considered for women 40 and over, but you should discuss breast cancer screening with your primary care provider to take your medical and family history into account4.
Low-Dose Chest CT Scan
CT scans are used in screening for lung cancer. Unlike traditional CT scans, the low-dose CT (LDCT) scan uses lower doses of ionising radiation and therefore may pose less of a risk5.
LDCT is an imaging technique that uses X-rays to create images of your chest cavity, including the lungs. LDCT creates a three-dimensional model of the chest by taking multiple pictures at different angles across your chest while you lie on a table that slides in and out of the scanner6.
The images can be used to spot differences in the density of tissues, which may help radiologists find soft tissue abnormalities indicative of cancer tumours or other diseases. New imaging technology makes it possible to look at cross-sectional images. These may enable the identification of concerning changes sooner, when the potential cancer is smaller and easier to treat7.
Whether LDCT lung cancer screening is appropriate depends on your medical and smoking history and consideration of the risks and benefits of X-ray radiation exposure.
Coronary Calcium Scoring
CT calcium scoring is a non-invasive test that uses X-rays to look for signs of calcium in the blood vessels that feed your heart muscle8.
Your coronary arteries are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood into the heart muscle. Blockages may cause coronary heart disease.
Currently, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the UK9. The good news is that coronary artery calcium scoring might hint that there’s a problem before you have any symptoms, enabling issues to be caught as soon as possible.
Types of Body Scans Using MRI
MRI, unlike tests using X-rays, does not expose the body to potentially harmful ionising radiation. Instead, it uses a magnetic field and radio waves to measure the water content in tissues. Computers use the data gathered to create detailed images.
To get an MRI, you’ll lie on a padded table that shuttles your body in and out of the tunnel of an MRI scanner, which houses a powerful magnet. Technicians can view the scan in real-time and may make adjustments to your positioning to ensure the highest quality results10.
You don’t have to wait to be referred by your doctor to get an MRI. Ezra’s MRI scans are quick, comprehensive, and convenient. The scans are designed to screen for cancer and over 500 other medical conditions, giving you peace of mind about your health.
MRI Benefits
MRIs provide high-quality images when evaluating soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Radiologists can often distinguish tumours and blood vessel defects like aneurysms from normal healthy tissue11.
Essentially any organs or tissues with a high water content are suitable for MRI imaging12. MRI can be a useful method for scanning the brain, too. MRI can distinguish between the two kinds of brain tissue: grey matter and white matter. Changes to these tissues are associated with certain neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease13.
MRI Limitations and Risks
While the magnets used in MRI machines are harmless to the human body, an MRI scan may not be the best choice if you have:
- Implanted metal, including some types of medical devices, pacemakers, dental implants, and fixed dental appliances14
- Non-removable metal body modification15
- Some types of tattoos and permanent makeup15
Traditional MRIs are challenging for patients with medical conditions like claustrophobia, certain disabilities, and those who cannot lie still for up to an hour14.
However, a 3T MRI alleviates some of these limitations since 3T MRI often have a larger bore than traditional MRI scanners and may offer shorter scan times17.
Summary: Be Proactive About Your Health
Even if you feel fit and healthy, many conditions go undiagnosed in the early stages as they are without symptoms. Being proactive and getting a body scan before symptoms arise is the best way to ensure your health and quality of life are prioritised.
With various types of body scans available, it’s helpful to have a service you can trust. Ezra’s MRI scans are designed to help spot potential abnormalities in 14 organs throughout your body, without harmful radiation.
Ezra’s MRI scans not only offer insight into your health, but also provide shorter scan times, roomier MRIs, and creature comforts like pyjamas. Book your scan today to see what an Ezra MRI scan could do for your health and peace of mind.
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References
1. NHS. Osteoporosis. NHS. October 2022. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://nhsuk-cms-fde-prod-uks-dybwftgwcqgsdmfh.a03.azurefd.net/conditions/osteoporosis/
2. NHS. X-ray. NHS. April 2022. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://nhsuk-cms-fde-prod-uks-dybwftgwcqgsdmfh.a03.azurefd.net/tests-and-treatments/x-ray/
3. Reilly RM. X-Ray, CT, and Mammography Technology. In: Medical Imaging for Health Professionals. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2019:11-26. doi:10.1002/9781119537397.ch2
4. Cancer Research UK. Mammogram. Cancer Research UK. May 2023. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/mammogram
5. Cancer Research UK. Lung cancer screening. Cancer Research UK. October 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/lung-cancer/getting-diagnosed/screening
6. Cancer Research UK. What is a CT scan (CAT scan)? Cancer Research UK. May 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/ct-scan
7. Hoffman RM, Atallah RP, Struble RD, Badgett RG. Lung Cancer Screening with Low-Dose CT: a Meta-Analysis. J Gen Intern Med. 2020;35(10):3015-3025. doi:10.1007/s11606-020-05951-7
8. British Heart Foundation. Focus on: CT scans of the heart. British Heart Foundation. June 2021. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/tests/ct-scans-of-the-heart
9. World Health Organisation. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. data.who.int. 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://data.who.int/countries/826
10. NHS. MRI scan. NHS. September 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://nhsuk-cms-fde-prod-uks-dybwftgwcqgsdmfh.a03.azurefd.net/tests-and-treatments/mri-scan/
11. Noebauer-Huhmann IM, Vanhoenacker FM, Vilanova JC, et al. Soft tissue tumor imaging in adults: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology-Guidelines 2023—overview, and primary local imaging: how and where? Eur Radiol. 2024;34(7):4427-4437. doi:10.1007/s00330-023-10425-5
12. Le Bihan D, Iima M. Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging: What Water Tells Us about Biological Tissues. PLoS Biol. 2015;13(7):e1002203. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002203
13. Sarasso E, Agosta F, Piramide N, Filippi M. Progression of grey and white matter brain damage in Parkinson’s disease: a critical review of structural MRI literature. J Neurol. 2021;268(9):3144-3179. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09863-8
14. Cancer Research UK. MRI scan. Cancer Research UK. April 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/mri-scan
15. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Magnetic resonance imaging equipment in clinical use: safety guidelines. GOV.UK. April 4, 2022. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-guidelines-for-magnetic-resonance-imaging-equipment-in-clinical-use
16. Uscher J, Madden C. Breast MRI: What it Is, Why it’s Done, & More. Breastcancer.org. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/breast-mri
17. Nuffield Health. 3T MRI scanning in Haywards Heath | Nuffield Heath. Nuffield Health. 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/haywards-heath/tests-scans/mri-scan
