Can I Get a Full Body Scan? Your Essential Guide
A full-body scan usually refers to a full body MRI scan. MRI scans provide the most detailed images of the inside of your body.
You can get a full-body MRI scan to get insights into your general health and address any health concerns you may have. This might include a family history of certain health conditions.
What is an MRI scan?
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI imaging machine uses very strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of your body.
MRI works because of the presence of water in all of the tissues that make up your body. Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. It is the hydrogen atoms – specifically tiny parts of these atoms called protons – that allow MRI to capture images of the inside of your body.
The magnetic field created around your body when you are in an MRI machine causes the protons to all line up in the same direction. When the MRI machine then releases bursts of radio waves, the protons are knocked out of alignment.
When the radio waves stop, the protons realign because of the magnetic field. When they do this, energy is released that is detected by sensors in the MRI machine. This creates images of the inside of your body.
How quickly the protons realign and how much energy they release varies across different tissues and within tissues. This is what allows MRI scans to create such high-resolution images of your tissues.
For certain MRIs that target a specific body area, you may be given a contrast agent called gadolinium. This is a rare earth metal that affects the protons in hydrogen atoms in water. This consequently improves the contrast of images captured during an MRI scan.
Full-Body MRI Scans: What to Expect
A full body MRI scan at Vista Health takes around 90 minutes. You will be asked to fill in a health questionnaire before your entire body scan to check that it is safe to go ahead with the scan.
This is because MRI scans are not suitable under certain conditions, usually due to the presence of metal fragments or implants in your body. MRI can cause metal fragments or implants to move position and/or overheat.
Certain metal implants are designed to be compatible with MRI scans, such as MRI-compatible pacemakers. The risks in your particular case will, therefore, be considered before a doctor confirms whether your MRI scan can go ahead.
You will then be asked to remove any metal items from your body, change into a hospital gown and lie down on the scanner table.
The scanner table will be slid into the tunnel part of the MRI machine. While in the MRI machine, you will be able to talk to the healthcare professional conducting your scan (a radiographer) and they will be able to talk to you. This means that if, for any reason, you want to pause or stop the scan, you can simply tell your radiographer.
During your scan, you will need to lie as still as possible. The machine will make loud banging, clicking and whirring noises as it captures images of the inside of your body.
Once your scan is complete, you can change back into your clothes and return to your usual activities straight away.
At Vista Health, we aim to send you a report with your scan results within 3 working days. This will include insights from one of our experienced radiologists (doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating diseases using medical imaging).
Who Should Consider a Full-Body Scan?
If you have health concerns or want to prioritise your health and well-being, a full-body MRI scan can help by providing detailed insights into the health of your organs and enabling the early detection of health conditions.
With this information, you can make informed health decisions about your lifestyle and treatment options so you can get your health back on track and avoid unnecessary pain, discomfort and worry.
A full body scan can also offer peace of mind if you have a family medical history of certain types of cancer, heart abnormalities or other diseases that can run in families.
If you want a full body MRI and to skip the waiting lists. Vista Health can help you with fast access nationwide in one of our chosen scanning centres.
Benefits and Risks of Full-Body Scans
Full body scans empower you with highly detailed insights into the state of your health so you can take proactive measures to live a healthier life. What’s more, MRI scans provide this information without exposing you to ionising radiation, which is used in CT scans and X-rays.
As MRI scans are safe, non-invasive and painless, they are considered low-risk. However, MRI scans can cause some anxiety if you experience claustrophobia. By informing your care team of your concerns, steps can be taken to help you feel more at ease during your scan.
It is also important to note that a full body MRI scan is not a definitive tool for the diagnosis of any specific disease. However, given the detailed images generated, a full-body MRI scan can help catch the early signs of disease, which will need to be investigated further with other tests before a diagnosis is confirmed.
Full-body MRI scans can also detect abnormalities that do not need any treatment and are not a cause for concern. These are often referred to as incidental findings. Your doctor can discuss these with you to put your mind at ease.
Comparing MRI With Other Scan Types
MRI vs CT
MRI scans and CT scans are both 3D imaging techniques that capture images of the inside of your body but they have different strengths.
CT scans provide good spatial resolution, which means they are ideal for detecting the boundaries of different structures. MRI scans provide good contrast resolution, which means they are ideal for detecting subtle changes between and within tissues.
As CT scans are faster, they are often used when a quick diagnosis is needed. This could be an emergency situation to detect a bleed after a traumatic injury or suspected stroke, for example.
Typical MRI scans take longer but can provide greater detail than CT scans and, unlike CT scans, do not use ionising radiation. This means pregnant women can undergo MRI scanning in their second and third trimesters.
However, MRI scans are not suitable for individuals who have metal fragments or implants in their body that are not MRI-compatible. This may include aneurysm clips, nerve stimulators and older pacemakers that do not have a safe mode for MRI scanning.
In the above cases, a CT scan may be preferable as CT scans do not use powerful magnets.
MRI vs X-Rays
X-rays are used for the most part to detect abnormalities in bony structures. They are also used to image the chest to detect lung conditions, such as pneumonia. X-ray images are 2D.
MRI scans can also image bony structures and the lungs but, unlike X-rays, they provide detailed 3D images. However, MRI scans are slower and more expensive than X-rays.
Preparing for Your Full Body MRI Scan
Full-body MRI scans do not usually require the use of a contrast agent, which means you can eat and drink as normal before your scan.
As you will need to change into a hospital gown, make sure you wear clothes that you can easily change out of. Also, remove any metal items from your body, such as piercings, jewellery, hair accessories and medical devices attached to the outside of your body (eg glucose monitors and tethered insulin pumps).
If you are feeling anxious about your full body scan, make sure you inform your care team so they can help you feel as comfortable as possible. You can also bring along a friend or family member.
What Happens after Your Full-Body MRI Scan?
At Vista Health, we provide the option of a private GP appointment to talk through your full-body MRI scan results at your post scan consultation.
One of our experienced GPs will explain the significance of your scan results. This will include whether any signs of ill health were detected and, if appropriate, what your treatment options are. We can also send your scan images and results to your NHS GP.
Based on your scan results and expert insights from a doctor, you can make evidence-based decisions on changes to your lifestyle and/or treatment options to ensure you can enjoy a healthier future.
If you are ready to get proactive with your health, book your private full-body MRI scan at one of Vista Health’s nationwide scanning facilities.