If you have ever been injured, you might have received an MRI or CT scan. Both are types of diagnostic imaging tests used to help doctors form a diagnosis. A doctor might choose one over the other based on the area being scanned, the patient’s health history or the urgency of the images. Essentially, both machines take pictures of your body’s inside (bones, organs, soft tissue, etc.) in a noninvasive manner. Though they both have their pros and cons, there are several differences between an MRI and a CT scan.