Question

A patient may have a brain tumor, and the physician decides to use a procedure that will give the highest resolution of imaging soft tissues. He gives orders for

a) a brain scan
b) computed tomography
c) electroencephalography
d) magnetic resonance tomography
e) lumbar puncture

Answer 1

The physician should use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to achieve the highest resolution imaging of soft tissues for diagnosing a potential brain tumor.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a physician needs to obtain a high-resolution image of soft tissues, such as when diagnosing a potential brain tumor, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is typically the procedure of choice. An MRI uses a strong magnetic field along with radio waves to produce detailed images of the organs and tissues within the body. This technique is excellent for viewing brain structures due to its high spatial resolution and ability to distinguish between different types of soft tissue, which is crucial when assessing brain tumors.

While a computed tomography (CT) scan also provides detailed images and can detect brain tumors and hemorrhages, it exposes the patient to significantly more radiation than an MRI. Other options listed, such as electroencephalography (EEG), lumbar puncture, and brain scans like PET, serve different purposes, such as measuring electrical activity in the brain or assessing physiological activity with radiopharmaceuticals, but they do not deliver the same level of detail in soft tissue contrast as an MRI.