Duration of an MRT examination | MRT for a cruciate ligament rupture

Duration of an MRT examination

The actual MRT images take about 15 to 30 minutes. The duration depends on the device and the number of images to be taken. If contrast medium is administered, this may also take a little longer. In addition, the waiting time and the time of the final consultation must be planned. Depending on the organization of the facility where the MRI is performed, this may take different amounts of time.

Costs

The costs of an MRI examination to diagnose a torn cruciate ligament are usually covered by statutory and private health insurance companies. They amount to a total of about 400 to 1,000 euros for privately insured persons. The statutory health insurance company settles directly with the radiology department. This can vary depending on the place of performance and expenditure (with or without contrast medium). You can find more detailed information on this topic at Costs of an MRT examination

MRT or CT

In order to detect a cruciate ligament rupture, the MRI examination is the better option than the CT examination. This has several reasons. Firstly, the patient is not exposed to radiation during magnetic resonance imaging.

This is due to the fact that during an MRI, the sectional images are taken based on the application of magnetic fields. On the other hand, in computer tomography, the images are produced by X-rays, which means that the body is exposed to radiation. Since computed tomography is based on X-rays, it is mainly bony structures that are imaged, just like normal X-rays.

Although CT is more detailed in its imaging than X-ray, it is not as informative as an MRI examination. In contrast to X-rays and CT, magnetic resonance imaging provides a more precise image of the soft tissues of the body. Here, for example, the inside of the joint or any water accumulation in joints can be detected much better.

Since both the cruciate ligaments and the menisci, which should always be checked if a cruciate ligament rupture is suspected, are considered soft tissues, an MRI examination is always preferable to a CT examination if a cruciate ligament rupture is suspected. A disadvantage of the MRI examination is that it is much more expensive to perform than a CT examination. However, since both procedures are usually covered by health insurance companies, this is often not relevant for the patient. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging requires more time than computed tomography.