Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI has become increasingly popular as a diagnostic imaging modality. The technology is based on the premise of using magnets to click pictures of the inside of a human body.
Introduction
Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI has become increasingly popular as a diagnostic imaging modality. The technology is based on the premise of using magnets to click pictures of the inside of a human body. It is a preferred method by healthcare professionals and patients alike due to its non-invasive characteristic. It also does not emit radiation which is usually found in X-ray or CT imaging.
One concern with MRI is that it whips up a powerful magnetic field, which can adversely interfere with medical or other implants in a patient’s body. Many people now opt to go for a full-body MRI as a precautionary measure to guard against many diseases. Even celebrities all over the world are seen going for proactive full-body MRI scans, generating enough hype in the media. This has contributed to more awareness of the subject.
Why are full-body MRIs advised by doctors?
It can be considered a versatile tool for diagnosing a range of disorders including conditions in the brain, organs, skeletal system, and muscles.
Usually, the physician advises an MRI when a person exhibits concerning symptoms.
In that case, the MRI may be taken to examine only one portion of the body. For instance, if a patient has a problem in the knee marked by chronic pain, he or she may go for an MRI of the knee. Similarly, if an individual has neurological symptoms, then the doctor would advise an MRI of the brain.
However, in a full-body MRI, there is scanning of the entire body from head to toe. It can help healthcare professionals identify more than 500 common and rare conditions. The conditions may range from cancer to aneurysms and heart abnormalities. The advantage of going for proactive full-body MRI scans is that if these conditions are identified before the advent of the symptoms, doctors can treat them more efficiently ensuring better treatment outcomes.
That is why the rich and the famous with the wherewithal are getting MRIs done to be on the safer side. Since many people are in constant touch with doctors or have healthcare providers in the family, it is easier to get the full-body MRIs done as a precautionary measure.
Regular MRI in assessing sports fitness
Even sports injury specialists prefer regular MRIs of athletes for successful evaluation of musculoskeletal abnormalities, which may have a profound impact on their performance. It can greatly affect their ability to train and perform. MRIs yield very high in soft tissue injuries helping in documenting the extent of muscle damage. It can help sports injury physicians to spot any intra-articular lesions including articular cartilage injuries and meniscal. Regular assessment of sportspersons is an essential part of the process and MRI is a great modality in augmenting it.
Full body MRI: Are there any pitfalls?
A full-body MRI can indeed help in the early detection of various diseases and conditions however there are also certain drawbacks to mull before blindly emulating this celebrity trend of voluntarily getting one.
The first and foremost disadvantage of getting a full body MRI is that it could lead o the detection of irrelevant clinical findings, which will invariably lead to invasive and useless tests. Moreover, there is no uniform standard for a full body MRI scan, as results may vastly vary based on the particular facility and location.
Secondly, full body MRI price will be a big concern for people as it doesn’t come cheap.
Moreover, a full body MRI runs the risk of fake-positive results, leading to a series of unnecessary tests drawing more risks. It would expose a person to unwanted radiation with positron emission tomography and CT. These would further dig a hole in the pockets of the people without any concrete results or need.
Although full-body MRI is known to help detect cancer and other ailments at an early stage, many healthcare professionals do not advise healthy people to go for it.
Hence, people should treat this as any other medical procedure or treatment and count all the chips and scales before getting a full-body MRI. It is better to consider the pros and cons of undergoing one. One should take to the personal physician before the scan.
Full body MRI and artificial intelligence: The future ahead
If we consider the advancement of technology in medical diagnostics and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with MRI, the future holds great promise. It can open a flurry of possibilities in the field of the predictive healthcare domain. Incorporating AI technology in the realm of medical imaging is set to revolutionize it.
So, full-body MRIs boosted by the integration of the latest technology like AI is going to help healthcare professionals in making a more accurate diagnosis and devising treatment intervention. AI can analyze a large amount of data in no time, which can be a great contribution to studying the internal anatomy of the human body. By identifying subtle patterns, anomalies, and biomarkers that may usually escape the human eye, AI-powered AI scans can be amazing for treatment plans. It can help in the preventive measures of a swathe of ailments. This integration of AI and MRI technology is ushering in a new dawn in predictive and preventive healthcare. It can mitigate any risks associated with missing vital information in conventional imaging techniques.
In a recent study, researchers capitalized on the use of machine learning to help detect diabetes related variables from a database of close to 2,400 T1-weighted, whole-body MR images. They performed the scans on people undergoing metabolic screening via oral glucose tolerance tests, which are used to measure the response of the body to sugar and screen for T2D. They found that MRIs integrated and boosted by AI can detect type-2 diabetes.
Full body MRI price
It is a concern for many patients as a full-body MRI price can be very high. Since this is a sophisticated and highly evolved technology, it is only natural to have a very high cost. However, you must also know that the full body MRI price varies a lot, courtesy of a slew of factors. One factor that influences the price of a full-body MRI is the specific location of the facility. It is also governed by the usage of contrast agents and extra screenings in a particular case. So, discuss with your healthcare provider and insurance provider to get a clear idea about the cost of your full-body MRI.
Conclusion
So, whether it is advised by your doctor or you are getting it voluntarily, a full-body MRI scan has its advantages and disadvantages as discussed above. However, it is entirely an individual call if you want to get it or skip it. Depending on the disorder, the physician is in the best position to order a full-body MRI or any other diagnostic technique. You can also talk beforehand if the full body MRI price is a concern for you. It will give you peace of mind to know the price in advance.
