Medical Physics - Structural vs. Functional

[impulsebro89]

Hi!

I just have a quick question about medical physics - what's the difference between structural imaging and functional imaging? 

Thanks 

[blasonduo]

Hi!

I just have a quick question about medical physics - what's the difference between structural imaging and functional imaging? 

Thanks 

Hey!

The words basically explain themselves; structural imaging makes a visual representation of the image, it shows how certain things look, not what they are doing. For example, a CAT scan can create an image of the brain to show tumours.

Functioning imaging is the opposite, it shows how the tissues are operating, but it lacks visual imaging. For example, a PET scan is able to see oxygen intake in the brain, allowing to look at any areas that are receiving insufficient oxygen.

If you compare the images of a PET brain scan and a CAT brain scan, you can clearly see this quality of image difference

Hope this helps!

[impulsebro89]

Yes it did! Thanks for the succinct explanation I understand the difference now