Whole-Body MRIs Are Trendy. Are They Worth the Hype?

Hi folks, it’s Kristen writing from my home turf of sunny Orange County, California. A reader this week asks whether whole-body MRIs are worth the hassle — or the price tag. But before we get to that ...

Recently there have been numerous ad campaigns on the benefits of whole-body MRIs, claiming that they can detect aneurysms and oncologic malignancies early and potentially save lives. The procedure is costly so not many people can afford it. Are these claimed benefits justified and scientifically sound? Anna, Larchmont, New York

Whole-body scans have become a trend in recent years, with buzzy, venture-backed startups touting their ability to detect the earliest stages of diseases such as cancer by imaging a person’s entire body.