Should You Get a Full-Body MRI?
March 05, 2025
Preventative care is gaining attention, allowing individuals to recognize the development of health-related problems before they become a threat. Regular screenings can be a valuable choice when it comes to preventing diseases, and recently, full-body MRIs have become popular among the general consumer and even celebrities. This article explores the use of a full-body MRI scan as part of preventative care. We’ll look at how it works, what you can expect, and the benefits this type of scan offers.
What is a Full-body MRI?
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a technology that uses radio waves and a large magnet. The two work together to create an image of the internal body.
The roots of MRI technology come from Nikola Tesla, a Serbian physicist who discovered rotating magnetic fields in 1882. The more modern version of these scans can be attributed to a 1972 patent filed by Dr. Raymond Vahan Damadian. He’s now often referred to as the father of MRI. The technology has since then received several improvements over the years.
In the modern day, MRI scans have become a go-to option for patients and healthcare providers. There are several reasons why your doctor may tell you to get an MRI. It can help to identify torn ligaments, for example. If your healthcare provider suspects a tumor, they can also use an MRI scan to investigate organs and bodily tissue in the area where cancer might be present.
When you have a diagnosed condition, a doctor can also use an MRI scan to track the progression and to see how their treatment plan is working.
While the scan is generally used in cases where you have been diagnosed with a disease or when a doctor suspects something might be wrong, many people are turning to a full-body MRI as a preventive measure in the modern day.
What to Expect During a Full-body MRI Scan
Knowing what to expect beforehand is important when considering a full-body MRI. Fortunately, this is a non-invasive procedure that shouldn’t take more than an hour, and potentially much less. It is more time-consuming than other exams like the DEXA scan, as the technology creates a more comprehensive image of your entire body.
First of all, it’s important to note that the test uses a strong magnet. Thus, you won’t be able to take any metal objects with you into the room where the machine is located. You’ll need to remove any jewelry that you have on and you’ll be asked to place these belongings, including your smartphone and glasses, in the monitor room.
Once you’re ready, you’ll enter the scanner room. Here, you’ll need to lie down on a bed. You will face up during the entire scan. The bed will then slide into a tunnel-like structure, where the MRI scan will be performed.
It can take up to 60 minutes for the full scan to complete. The magnet used will be turned on and off frequently during this time.
Benefits of a Full-body MRI
Kim Kardashian famously underwent a full-body MRI scan in 2023. She shared her experience on social media, stating that she did so as a preventative health measure.
In January 2023, Maria Menounos, American television host and actress, underwent a full-body scan. Soon after, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This was after her doctor discovered a mass that was growing on her pancreas. Following a diagnosis of stage 2 pancreatic cancer, she underwent surgery. Afterwards, Maria was free of cancer.
She has since praised the benefits that she was able to experience thanks to this full-body MRI scan. If the cancerous tumor was not discovered through that scan, it could have potentially developed further before a doctor was able to diagnose her.
Maria opened up about this when she was interviewed by People Magazine.
This is one example of how a full-body MRI can be extremely helpful in detecting diseases early on. By being able to identify signs of cancer at an early stage, treatment is not only easier, but also has a chance of being much more successful.
A full-body MRI can be used for more than cancer detection and prevention. It’s also an effective tool for detecting and monitoring edema, inflammation, water retention, and problems with tissues.
A journal entry in Frontiers in Medicine details how a whole body MRI can be used to assess the level of joint inflammation among patients with Rheumatoid arthritis. Another scientific paper explains that whole body MRIs can help to provide a better view of how well treatment works and how much inflammation is present in different age groups.
Conclusion
While healthcare providers have traditionally used MRI scans to detect certain conditions in patients, we’re seeing a rising interest in full-body MRIs as part of preventative care. This is partly due to a more significant shift in healthcare, where consumers want to be proactive and have more control over their health instead of waiting for doctors to treat conditions after they’ve already developed.
References
https://openmedscience.com/a-short-history-of-magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri/
