Who should get a whole-body MRI?
Whole body MR imaging is suitable for people in the risk group for cancer, cancer patients and people who want to have a general purpose body scan. With this method, tumor formations in the body are diagnosed at an early stage in patients who are in the risk group for cancer. It is possible to evaluate the stage of the disease and to determine whether it has metastasized with the whole-body MRI, which is also preferred by cancer patients. In addition, it is also used in the evaluation of responses to treatment in patients undergoing cancer treatment. People who want to have their general health checked once a year can also have many procedures covered by general health screening done in a single session, thanks to whole-body MRI.
This method, which analyses the entire body in approximately 50 minutes, helps diagnose tumors in many organs at an early stage. With MRI, a wide area is examined, including the brain, rib cage, trunk, neck, spine and legs up to the knee. But there are also cases where this method cannot be used. For example, whole body MRI technique cannot be used in the evaluation of joints such as knees and shoulders, imaging of the breast and prostate, and evaluation of neck, back and waist hernias, as special shots are required in these cases.
Is the patient exposed to radiation during the Whole-Body MRI?
There is no radiation exposure to the body in MRI examinations, it can be used safely in children and pregnant women after 3 months of gestation. Thanks to this method, the whole body can be imaged in a single session, no radiation is taken, and no contrast material is used during the examination.
There is no need for entering the examination with an empty stomach and there is no need to drink plenty of water to ensure bladder congestion before the exam. While the areas scanned with classical radiological methods are limited, a wide area can be examined with the whole-body MRI. Early detection of tumors and tumor-like lesions is ensured. It can be applied to all age groups as it carries no risk and side effects.
During this examination, the person is dressed in a metal-free clothing suitable for MRI. A device with receiving antennas is placed on the patient, and while the person is stationary, shots are taken in sequence, starting from the brain, to other regions, thanks to the moving table of the MRI device.
The person needs to lie still on the MRI table for 50 minutes. During the shooting of the abdomen and chest regions, the person undergoing the MRI is asked to hold their breath for no more than 20 seconds.