Wernher von Braun, who with his team launched the first American satellite into space said, “One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.” With today’s advanced imaging technology, radiologists can take “one picture” of the entire inside of your body which is comparable to “a thousand expert opinions.” Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners allow physicians to perform a whole body scan, without ionizing radiation from Computed Tomography (CT) scans.
A whole body MRI scan looks at the body from head to toe in order to find cancers, inflammation or obstructive processes in the body. In the head, the exam can show brain masses, shrinkage, old strokes, the sinuses and nasal cavities. In the neck, abnormalities in the lymph nodes, thyroid masses or arthritis in the cervical spine can be identified. In the chest, we check the heart for enlargement and the aorta for aneurysms. Moving to the abdomen and pelvis, we can evaluate the kidneys, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, gallbladder (gallstones), pancreas, bladder, uterus and ovaries. We look at the spine to check for disc herniation and spinal stenosis; and in the extremities, arthritis in the joints. An additional exam of a specific area may be required if an abnormality is identified in order to obtain more detailed information.
If you have a history of smoking, it is recommended that a CT lung screening without contrast be added to the whole body MRI screening.
Any concerns relating to prostate cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer would require body specific imaging and is not included in the whole body MRI screening.
This exam is useful for individuals who are asymptomatic, yet want an overview of their current health condition. Early detection of cancers can radically change the type of treatment options that will be available to a patient. Other areas of concern might benefit from simple changes in lifestyle such as eating habits or exercise.
Patients can opt to have whole body MRI scans performed without a physician’s order; however, as with many imaging screening exams available today, this exam is not currently covered by insurance.
Your whole body MRI screening will also include a consultation with one of our Board Certified Radiologists at HALO Diagnostics. For more information please call (760) 694-9559 or visit www.desertmedicalimaging.com.
For more information on this and other radiology procedures, please visit www.radiologyinfo.org.
