Should You Get a Full-Body MRI? Doctors Warn Benefits May Not Outweigh the Hidden Risks

A full body scan has become sort of a celebrity trend right now, with everyone advocating for MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Many people get a diagnosis for various deadly diseases, including cancers, through the scan. An MRI is a painless test that produces very clear images of the organs and structures inside your body using a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images. Because MRI does not use X-rays or other radiation, it is the imaging test of choice when people need frequent imaging for diagnosis or treatment monitoring, especially of the brain. It usually takes around 40 to 60 minutes and can identify malignancies, inflammation, and obstructive growths inside your body. The imaging system is utilized for those

with issues like multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and melanoma, apart from those who have genetic mutations that predispose them to various cancers. In recent years, it has been used for metastatic breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lymphoma, too.

Are MRI scans safe?

According to radiologists, despite many successful diagnoses, the overall benefits of whole-body MRI scans in average-risk or asymptomatic people are not clear. Most of them say there is no evidence to show how full-body MRI in a larger population can save lives. Experts say full-body scans are not recommended for the general population, especially when there are no symptoms, and the individual is completely healthy, without any risk factors or increased risk factors for cancer.

Targeted MRI is better

According to radiologists, targeted MRI, which scans a specific part of the body, is a more effective approach for the majority of those who either have pain in a specific area or have laboratory abnormalities indicating specific organ issues. Whole-body MRIs will not be able to detect every cancer, and they can even miss some pathologies, so they should not replace routine cancer screening procedures like colonoscopies, pap smears, and mammograms.

What are the risks of whole-body MRIs?

There are a few side effects and risk factors to getting whole-body MRIs, and a few include: Full body scans are extremely expensive, and the odds that your health insurance will cover the cost are greater for those who have a genetic predisposition. There is also a risk of an allergic reaction if your MRI requires the use of contrast material. These reactions are usually mild and controllable by medication. If you have an allergic reaction, the doctor will be available for immediate assistance.

Who should not get an MRI?

While in many cases, an MRI exam is safe for those with metal implants, in a few types, it is completely avoidable. Also, you must get a device which is certified as MRI safe, which includes:

• Metallic joint prostheses
• Some cochlear implants
• Some types of clips used for brain aneurysms
• Metal coils are placed within blood vessels
• Older cardiac defibrillators