Whole-body MRI screenings gain popularity despite concerns from medical experts - ABC7 Los Angeles

What the report says

KABC-TV reported that elective whole-body MRI screenings are gaining renewed attention, fueled by social media promotion and consumer demand for earlier detection of disease. The scans are marketed as a way to look for cancer and hundreds of other conditions before symptoms appear, but the report noted that many medical experts remain skeptical about their value for people without specific medical indications.

Prenuvo, a direct-to-consumer company offering the scans, was cited as saying follow-up findings are common. Its chief medical officer, Dr. Dan Durand, told KABC that roughly one in five patients may receive a result that needs additional evaluation. He said some patients may still want that information even if a scan has not been shown to improve survival, and described whole-body scanning as part of a broader shift toward proactive medicine.

The report also highlighted concerns from physicians and major medical organizations, which generally do not recommend elective whole-body MRIs for routine screening. Dr. Robert Krasny, a radiologist with RadNet in Santa Monica, told KABC that scans can detect abnormalities that turn out to be harmless, potentially leading to anxiety, further testing or unnecessary treatment. He pointed to established screening programs, such as breast and colon cancer screening, as areas where benefits are better supported, while noting that some detected cancers may not ultimately threaten a patient’s health.

KABC reported that whole-body MRI scans typically cost about $1,500 to $4,000 and are rarely paid for by insurance. The story’s practical takeaway was that patients considering such screening should weigh possible benefits against false alarms and downstream procedures, and discuss personal risk factors with a primary care physician before deciding.