In diagnosing degenerative disc disease, are x-rays needed prior to getting an MRI if a non-contrasted CT-scan impression has already indicated multilevel degenerative disease throughout the cervical spine and suggested correlation with an MRI might be useful? I m not opposed to getting necessary x-rays (if fact, I m thankful for the technology), but I m not sure why they might be ordered prior to an MRI given the detailed (3-page) CT-scan.