It can be difficult to diagnose small bowel cancer as the small bowel is in the middle part of the digestive tract, so it can be hard for your doctor to examine. Taking pictures, for example a CT scan ...

These create pictures of your small bowel so they can see if there’s cancer and whether it has spread. Tests might include X-rays, a CT scan, or MRI. They might also order an endoscopy.

An MRI involves laying in a small space for an extended amount of time, ... You’ll need to empty your bladder 2 hours before the scan and not go again until it’s all done.

An MRI scan is not painful and typically takes around 30–50 minutes. Other ways of diagnosing endometriosis Other tools for diagnosing endometriosis include ultrasound and laparoscopy.

However, endometriosis may not always be visible on an MRI scan. If this is the case, doctors may not find definitive proof of endometriosis until a laparoscopy, a surgical procedure that uses ...

CT Scan vs. MRI Scan: Uses, Risks, and What to Expect Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Tessa Sawyers — Updated on July 3, 2025 MRI ...

To undergo an MRI scan, you lie on a movable table that slides into a large, tunnel-shaped scanner. The healthcare provider who performs the test may place small devices containing coils around ...