Preventive Full-Body MRIs: Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, has been around for decades. It’s an invaluable tool for gaining high-resolution images of the inside of the body. MRIs are typically used as a diagnostic test to investigate the cause of symptoms or diagnose a medical condition. But should they be used for preventive medicine?

Many people, including celebrities, are using full-body MRIs for preventive health reasons. They are arming themselves with all the information they can to prevent disease, catch medical conditions earlier and live longer.

“Full-body scans are growing nationally and becoming popular with people who are invested in knowing their body composition and health. This is just another way for people to take control of their own health care and their long-term risks,” says Michael Walsh, MD, the consulting radiologist for Icaria, Powered by ProMedica.

Icaria is a precision health and wellness center located in Toledo and serving the region. The center offers private pay full-body MRIs as part of its services based on precision diagnostics, performance optimization and personalized therapeutics.

There are some concerns with having a full-body MRI – but for those who want to take charge of their health and longevity, do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Early Cancer Detection with Full-Body MRIs

“I think what’s spurring more people to seek whole body imaging is to have the comfort of knowing that they may not have an unknown or undetected cancer,” explains Dr. Walsh.

While some cancers, such as breast cancer, have current screening programs in place, not all cancers do. Without cancer screenings or genetic markers, some individuals may worry about their risk.

“Those who do not have a known genetic predisposition or family history of cancer would be a candidate for full-body imaging if they have concerns about a possible neoplasm or cancer that’s undetected,” says Dr. Walsh. “The benefits of screening and detecting a cancer when it’s in an early stage, like stage one as opposed to stage four metastatic cancer, are tremendous in terms of treatment and decreased long-term complications or even death.”

For male patients at Icaria, the full-body scan also includes a detailed MRI of the prostate. Dr. Walsh explains, “It can detect prostate neoplasm but also enlargement and benign prostate hypertrophy, which could cause urinary symptoms or difficulty voiding in patients.”

Checking Brain, Heart and Organ Health

Whole-body imaging can also gather a large amount of information about every organ system throughout the body. It can detect issues including metabolic disorders of the liver, lymph node enlargement, or inflammatory changes of the organs.

“We look at the composition of the brain and the volume of the brain for signs of neurodegenerative disorders or early atrophy. We also look for inflammatory disorders of the brain, such as multiple sclerosis,” says Dr. Walsh. “We use an angiogram of the brain to look for undetected intracranial aneurysms that could potentially rupture and cause bleeding down the road.”

Some full-body MRIs, like that within Icaria’s program, include a dedicated cardiac MRI to image the structures of the heart.

Dr. Walsh says, “We can evaluate for functional disorders of the valves and ensure that the cardiac function is normal. We can make sure there is no hypertrophy, or enlargement, and abnormal thickening of the myocardium, or muscular tissue, of the heart.”

At Icaria, individuals can also receive calcium scoring to assess heart health. This test looks for plaque within the coronary arteries to assess risk for future heart attacks or cardiovascular events.

Concerns Around Incidental Findings

The biggest concern around preventive full-body scans is the possibility of incidental findings that may not be of concern.

In April 2023, the American College of Radiology made a statement that the organization “does not believe there is sufficient evidence to justify recommending total body screening for patients with no clinical symptoms, risk factors or a family history suggesting underlying disease or serious injury.” Among the reasonings were a lack of documented evidence about prolonging life and potentially unnecessary testing and procedures.

“Some of the incidental, or unexpected, findings from the MRI may require additional testing to confirm that they are nothing of concern,” explains Dr. Walsh.

The risk of incidental findings with additional follow-ups and testing is something individuals should consider before having a full-body MRI. It’s a matter of weighing the risks and the benefits, and ensuring you have the resources and support if needed.

“There are several companies that have opened dedicated, private-pay imaging centers where you can get a full-body MRI. What makes the Icaria unique is that the scan is a part of other comprehensive diagnostics, and you meet with a physician quickly to assess results and determine any necessary next steps. We interpret the images within 30-45 minutes,” states Dr. Walsh. “There isn’t a chance for the patient to not know findings or have to wait weeks to follow up with a physician.”

Working through a health care system like ProMedica can also help speed up follow-up care if there is a concerning finding. As part of the ProMedica system, Icaria is connected to hundreds of providers in a variety of specialties. 

The Full-Body MRI Experience

A full-body MRI can take from 60 to 90 minutes of scan time, which can be a long time to be completely still in a rather confined space. This time is required to gather the imaging and information needed. For some, the hardest part of the experience is staying still.  For others, the confined space and the noise can be disconcerting or even uncomfortable.  “I don’t think people understand how loud an MRI machine is when it’s acquiring images,” says Dr. Walsh. “It’s a shock to some people. But the noise indicates that the machine is working properly.”

The Icaria MRI unit has a wide opening to help alleviate the feeling of confinement. Individuals can take a break at the 40-minute interval and even watch movies or TV shows while they are in the scanner. They can also hear the technician and are able to signal and speak to the technician if they are having issues.

While a 60-90-minute timeframe may not sound ideal, it’s a short period of time that could be well worth it. For those who want to know exactly what’s going on in their body, it can provide a detailed look into the state of their health and potentially their future.