Full body MRI in London, what it costs and whether it is worth it

What a full body MRI is

A full body MRI is a scan from the brain to the pelvis that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the organs, the spine, the blood vessels and the soft tissues. It uses no X-rays, so there is no radiation dose [1].

As a screening test, it looks for signs of disease in a person who feels well. A scan chosen to answer a symptom is a different test, planned around that question, and a doctor should see you first.

What a full body MRI costs in London

Prices in London vary with what a scan covers and who reads it. Some scans leave out the chest or the heart, some are read by software first, and some end with a report and no doctor. When you compare, ask what is covered, who reports it, and who sits down with you afterwards.

Our full body MRI is from £2,500 on a 3 Tesla scanner, takes 60 minutes, and is reviewed by a consultant radiologist, with a physician consultation to discuss the findings included [2]. The Longevity Foundation programme, at £6,995, includes a full body MRI alongside DEXA, VO2max testing, a metabolic and hormone panel and a physician roadmap [3].

Why it is done and who it suits

People choose a full body MRI for a detailed baseline of their body, to compare against in later years, and for the reassurance of having looked. It suits a well adult who accepts that something will probably be found, and who has a doctor to decide calmly which findings need follow-up and which can be left alone.

It is a choice, and it adds to the screening your doctor already recommends rather than replacing it. A whole body scan has not been tested against cervical, breast or bowel screening, so keep those up to date.

Who it is not for

Some implants and devices make an MRI unsafe or need special arrangements. These include certain cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, some aneurysm clips, medication pumps, neurostimulators and cochlear implants, and metal fragments in or near the eye [1]. Many newer devices are acceptable, but the radiographer needs the exact make and model beforehand [1].

If you are pregnant, a screening scan is usually postponed until after the birth, even though MRI has no proven risk in pregnancy [4]. If you are uneasy in enclosed spaces, tell us early. Our MRI scanners are wide bore, with quieter scan sequences, and most people complete the scan when they know what to expect [2] [1]. A person who will worry for weeks over a small harmless finding may be better served by a conversation with a doctor first.

Benefits and limitations

A scan finds a great deal, and most of it is harmless. A review of 12 studies of 5,373 people without symptoms found that 32.1% had a finding a radiologist would call critical or uncertain, and in the studies that checked, 16.0% of findings were false alarms [5].

Serious findings are less common. A review in the BMJ of 32 studies and 27,643 adults without symptoms found a potentially serious finding in 3.9% of brain and body scans, rising to 12.8% when uncertain findings were counted. Where findings were followed up, 48 of 234 turned out to be serious [6].

The American College of Radiology does not recommend total body screening for people without symptoms, risk factors or a family history, and notes there is no evidence yet that it helps people live longer [7]. A clear scan is reassuring, though it does not rule out every condition, and the heart and breasts need their own tests.

Risks, including incidental findings

The main risk is a finding that leads to more tests. The American College of Radiology is concerned that screening scans find many non-specific results that lead to follow-up tests and procedures without improving health [7]. Most are settled with a further scan or a review, and a few lead to a specialist appointment.

The scan itself is safe when the safety checks are followed. Metal on the body or in clothing can heat or move in the magnetic field, which is why you change into a gown and answer a safety questionnaire [1]. The scanner is loud, and you are given ear protection [1].

How you prepare and what to expect on the day

Before the day, a doctor reviews your history and your safety questionnaire. You can usually eat and take your medicines as normal. On the day you change into a gown, lie on a padded table and stay still while the scan runs, with a call button in your hand and a radiographer who can see and hear you throughout [1].

• The make and model of any implant or device
• Any previous scans and their reports
• A list of your medicines and allergies
• Whether you could be pregnant
• Clothing without metal, and no jewellery

Results and what happens next

A consultant radiologist reads the scan and writes a detailed report, and a physician goes through it with you, explaining which findings matter and which do not [2]. When something needs follow-up, the doctor arranges it and explains why.

• Which parts of my body does the scan cover, and which does it leave out?
• What would make you recommend a further test?
• Which of my usual screening tests should I keep up?
• When, if ever, would a repeat scan be useful?

How The Wellness can help

Our London clinics are on Baker Street in Marylebone and Eccleston Street in Belgravia, open from 7am to 9pm every day, and every doctor is GMC registered. Scans are carried out through registered partner clinics, and a doctor checks your history and safety answers before the appointment, then sits down with you afterwards to explain the report.

If you want the scan as part of a wider picture, the Longevity Foundation programme at £6,995 adds DEXA, VO2max and a metabolic and hormone panel, with a physician roadmap [3].