Is a full body MRI worth it?What the bodies that advise doctors and the NHS say, and the screening committee’s 7 questions put to 23 providers’ own pages.

Before you pay

What would be the benefits of having the test?

The committee’s own follow up questions: “Is there any evidence that the test can lead to avoidance of an important health problem some time in the future? If the test only claims to offer peace of mind, then a fitness check and good advice about nutrition and physical activity might be a better option.”

The providers answer in their own words. Paul Strickland Scanner Centre: “These scans can spot cancer early, even before symptoms appear, giving you peace of mind.” Spire Healthcare: “Early Detection: It may identify diseases such as cancer at an early stage” and “Reassurance: A normal scan can offer peace of mind about your health status.” Prenuvo: “1 in 20 scans result in a potentially life-saving diagnosis”. VisitHealth: “This scan is intended for preventive screening and peace of mind, not for diagnosing specific symptoms.” On the pages read, 13 of the 23 providers use the words “peace of mind”.

The Royal College of Radiologists says “we only recommend body scanning to investigate symptoms of disease, and only under the direction of a doctor.”

Is the test already offered for free on the NHS?

The NHS offers screening, and a full body scan is not part of it. The programmes listed on nhs.uk for adults in England are cervical screening for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64, breast screening for women from 50 to 70, a bowel cancer home test kit every 2 years from 50 to 74, lung cancer screening in some parts of England for people aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked, and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for men when they turn 65. The committee: “The UK NSC only recommends a screening programme if it is confident that high quality, peer-reviewed published evidence shows that its benefits would outweigh any harms.”

Several providers say their own scan does not take the place of NHS screening. LivingCare Group: “A full-body MRI does not replace established cancer screening programmes, such as mammography, cervical screening, bowel cancer screening, or PSA testing.” Spire Healthcare: “Therefore, a whole body MRI should not replace evidence based screening programmes (like mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) which are designed for specific cancers.” Goodbody Clinic: “The NHS uses MRI to investigate symptoms or monitor a known condition, and a GP cannot order a whole-body scan for reassurance or early detection.”

Is the company properly regulated?

The committee: “It is a legal requirement that all providers of screening services in England are registered with the Care Quality Commission.” In Scotland the register is Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Every provider’s listing in this directory shows each of its scan sites as the register records it, with the rating in the register’s own words. Among the scan sites matched, the register’s ratings run from “Outstanding” to “Requires improvement”, and several sites have their first inspection still to come.

What do the fees cover?

The committee asks: “Are the fees clear? Is there a pressurising ‘book now for a reduced price’ offer? Will the company charge extra to follow up results? If so, how much extra will it charge?”

On the pages read, 9 of the 23 providers show an offer or a reduced price. Pall Mall Medical’s full body MRI page carries “50% off Private MRI screening” in its title and shows “Was £1,600 Now £795” for its Silver scan. Vitalscan: “Save 20% on all MRI Scans this autumn.”

11 list charges beyond the scan price. Unirad’s post scan review with a GP is £50 and Vista Health’s post scan GP consultation £50. MyScanHub lists a “Follow-up GP Consultation” at £115, and medneo UK charges £115 for contrast if it is needed. New Horizons Imaging: “If urgent findings require clinical action, you may be offered a virtual private GP consultation at additional cost before the report is released.”

Sources 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17

After the scan

Can the test do more harm than good?

The committee: “False positive results are inevitable in screening. This is when a screening test shows up a potential condition, but further tests reveal there is not a problem. This leads to unnecessary worry, and follow-up tests and investigations which may carry risks of complications.” And: “Screening can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This is where screening uncovers conditions which would not have led to a problem in a person’s lifetime but which, once found, require treatment.”

On the pages read, 13 of the 23 providers write about false alarms, chance findings or what a scan can miss. Spire Healthcare sets out 3: “False Positives: The scan may detect harmless abnormalities that appear suspicious, which may lead to unnecessary anxiety and further tests including sometimes invasive tests.” “Incidental findings: It may uncover unrelated issues (incidentalomas), which might not affect your health but could lead to further tests and possible interventions.” “False negatives: Not all diseases or small tumours can be detected, especially early stage cancers or very subtle changes.” Goodbody Clinic: “The trade-offs are cost, and the chance of finding something harmless that then needs follow-up to rule out.” Lumen: “There is always the risk of a false positive or a false negative result in every test or scan.”

What if the test picks something up?

The committee, on commercial screening: “Often they only offer a test. If an individual then receives an abnormal finding from the test, it is up to them to seek any advice, possible further investigation or treatment. Often the tests will need to be repeated by the NHS.” The Royal College of General Practitioners: “Organisations offering these interventions must organise and fund follow-up so that patients are adequately supported and so that the interventions do not impact negatively on the use of NHS resources.”

5 of the 23 providers say something about who pays after a finding. Vista Health’s terms: “The NHS and private medical insurance companies will not fund or cover self-referrals. All self-referrals are undertaken on a self-pay basis only.” Spire Healthcare: “The finance provided will only cover the cost of the diagnostics and consultation. It does not cover the cost of treating any diagnosed conditions.” Lumen: “If a specific medical problem is identified and requires an ongoing referral, you are advised to consult your Insurance company Helpline to discuss your cover.” The other 18 providers’ pages read do not say.

What if there are no clear results?

The committee asks what support the company will give, whether more tests will be needed, what they involve, what they cost and who will deliver them. Vista Health’s terms: “all diagnostic tests have recognised clinical limitations, including the possibility of false positive or false negative results. Results should be interpreted in the context of your overall clinical picture, and further assessment or follow-up may be required”. Goodbody Clinic: “Most incidental findings are benign and simply noted in the report.” Lumen: “However, the majority of these will be mildly abnormal results which may require just reassurance, simple monitoring, lifestyle advice or a discussion of possible medical treatments.”

The Royal College of General Practitioners says providers “should ensure that patients are aware of what is, and is not, approved of by the UK NSC at the point of sale”. On the pages read, none of the 23 providers names the UK National Screening Committee or the Royal College of Radiologists.

Sources 1, 3, 6, 10, 18, 19 and 20