Lumbar disc disease
In symptomatic cases the diagnosis should be confirmed by an MRI scan. However, in cases with slight symptoms, a faster and cheaper CT scan (although it is inferior to MRI scan) may be recommended. While a CT scan can show the bony structures in more detail, an MRI scan can better portray soft tissue.
Center for Biomedical Imaging
The Center for Biomedical Imaging houses a 3 tesla Philips MRI scanner for functional, structural, and spectroscopic studies of humans and animals. The Center for Biomedical Imaging provides researchers with access to the MRI as well as expertise in all modalities of MRI, not only for the Boston University Community, but also for researchers at other institutions. Currently, researchers at the Center for Biomedical Imaging are working on projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) and Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.