How do radiography and CT differ in the information they provide?

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Plain radiography creates two-dimensional projections of the body, meaning all structures along the X-ray path are superimposed into one image. This can hide or blur findings because you’re seeing a shadow rather than a true shape at a specific depth. CT, on the other hand, collects data in thin slices through the body, letting you view each cross-section directly and accurately locate lesions in three-dimensional space. From those slices you can also build three-dimensional reconstructions. The cross-sectional approach reduces overlap of structures and uses density differences more effectively, which generally makes CT more sensitive for pathology. Therefore, radiography provides 2D projections, while CT offers cross-sectional slices and 3D reconstructions with higher sensitivity for detecting disease.