{"id":31914,"date":"2026-10-13T16:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T14:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/specialita\/whole-body-mri\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T11:19:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T10:19:52","slug":"whole-body-mri","status":"publish","type":"specialita","link":"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/en\/specialita\/whole-body-mri\/","title":{"rendered":"Whole Body MRI"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Whole Body MRI area covers imaging of the entire body in a single session, without ionizing radiation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","area_medica":[],"prestazione":[],"class_list":["post-31914","specialita","type-specialita","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"accreditato_ssn":false,"box_eccellenza":null,"eccellenza":false,"specialita_madre":31900,"lead":"Whole body MRI, or total body MRI, studies the whole body in a single session, without ionizing radiation or contrast medium. In the NefroCenter Group it is performed at the Rome American Hospital in Roma, on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. It is used in oncology and, in specific situations, as screening: it must be decided with the physician.","occhiello":"International guidelines recommend whole body MRI in specific situations, such as some genetic cancer predisposition syndromes and multiple myeloma. As screening in the general population, however, the evidence is not sufficient: in 2023 the American College of Radiology did not consider it justified to recommend it to those without symptoms, risk factors or a family history suggesting a disease. With risk factors or a family history the physician decides, assessing the individual\u2019s risk.\n\nThis page does not replace the physician\u2019s opinion.","icona":false,"revisione_clinica":"","aggiornato":"in October 2026","ambito_titolo":"What whole body MRI is and how it works","ambito_intro":"Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radiofrequency pulses, without ionizing radiation, and makes the soft tissues, such as the brain, spinal cord and muscles, clearly visible.\n\nWhole body, or total body, MRI is not limited to one region: it studies the whole body in a single session. The Rome American Hospital also calls it whole body diffusion MRI (WB-DWI). In studies, diffusion-weighted sequences (DWI) have shown high sensitivity for tumors in several regions of the body.\n\nIt is a panoramic examination: if it reveals an abnormality in an organ, specific investigations are needed.","ambito_voci":"The whole body in one session\nAbout 30 minutes\nNo contrast medium\nNo ionizing radiation\nDiffusion-weighted sequences (DWI)\nPanoramic examination","ambito_chiusura":"","segnali_titolo":"Who whole body MRI is indicated for","segnali_intro":"For the first two situations whole body MRI is recommended by international guidelines; the others are indicated by the Rome American Hospital. The physician always decides.","segnali_voci":"Genetic cancer predisposition syndromes, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome: surveillance with dedicated protocols, which include the lower limbs and other examinations such as contrast brain MRI\nMultiple myeloma: detection and staging of the disease, and search for relapses when the paraprotein values in the blood rise\nLymphomas\nStaging of some tumors, to define their extent\nFamily history of cancer: the physician assesses the individual\u2019s risk and recommends the recommended tests","segnali_chiusura":"","img1_foto":"","img1_didascalia":"","servizi_titolo":"What total body MRI sees, and what it does not","servizi_intro":"In the typical screening protocol described in the literature, the study runs from the head to mid-thigh, with T1-weighted, T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted sequences. In oncology it is increasingly used also in tumors that tend to spread to the bone marrow, such as some prostate and breast cancers.\n\n<h3>Why whole body MRI at 3 Tesla<\/h3>\n\nThe magnetic field of a 3 Tesla MRI scanner is twice that of 1.5 Tesla systems and produces a richer signal, useful for more detailed images or shorter examinations. For whole body, according to the Rome American Hospital, higher-quality sequences are obtained on the brain, lungs and abdominal organs, in the same examination time. More details on the <a href=\"\/en\/specialita\/3-tesla-mri\/\">3 Tesla MRI<\/a> page.\n\n<h3>What may emerge<\/h3>\n\nIn people without symptoms, according to a review of the literature, abnormal findings are found in about 95% of cases: about 30% require further investigations, and less than 2% are reported as suspicious for malignancy. In a meta-analysis of over 9,000 people without symptoms, confirmed cancers were 1.57%. Before the examination, therefore, it must be taken into account that incidental findings are likely and that it is rare for the examination to find a cancer.\n\nThe opposite is also true: a negative examination does not rule out every cancer, because in the largest studies sensitivity was between 50 and 90%. Whole body MRI, moreover, is not part of organized cancer screening programs.","servizi_voci":"","servizi_chiusura":"","img2_foto":"","img2_didascalia":"","figlie_titolo":"","box_eccellenza_titolo":"","box_eccellenza_testo":"","rimandi_titolo":"","rimandi_voci":"","prevenzione_titolo":"","prevenzione_testo":"","visita_titolo":"How whole body MRI is performed and how long it takes","visita_passi":"You fill in a questionnaire on your state of health, which serves to bring out any contraindications, and sign the consent.\nYou lie down on the table, which slides into the bore, with no metal objects on you; headphones muffle the noise of the machine.\nDuring the scan you stay still and sometimes hold your breath; you communicate with the staff via intercom and there is a call button.\nAt the Rome American Hospital the complete scan takes about 30 minutes and involves no contrast medium.\nOnce the examination is over you resume normal activities immediately; after mild sedation you cannot drive and someone must take you home.\nThe report is written by a radiologist; the turnaround times are to be asked at the Rome American Hospital when booking.","gruppo_titolo":"Whole body MRI in Roma: the Rome American Hospital","gruppo_testo":"In the NefroCenter Group, whole body MRI is performed at the Rome American Hospital in Roma, specialized above all in imaging and instrumental diagnostics. The examination takes place on the hospital\u2019s 3 Tesla MRI scanner, a Siemens Magnetom VIDA, with:\n- a wide bore (70 cm), for a lesser feeling of claustrophobia;\n- panels with panoramic, relaxing images (\u201cVisual Therapy\u201d);\n- noise-reduction systems.\n\nInformation and bookings: <a href=\"\/en\/strutture\/\">Imaging Diagnostics at the Rome American Hospital<\/a>, telephone +39 06 2255290.\n\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/specialita\/advanced-diagnostics\/\">All the Advanced Diagnostics of the NefroCenter Group<\/a><\/p>nn","unita_titolo":"","extra1_titolo":"Preparation, safety and contraindications","extra1_intro":"In general no special preparation is needed and usual medicines can be taken; doubts are clarified with the physician. Watches, jewelry, piercings, hearing aids and wigs stay outside the room; clothes without metal parts are best.\n\nThe compatibility of an implanted device with MRI holds only under precise conditions, including the strength of the magnetic field: those with metal or electronic devices are therefore assessed beforehand, also with regard to 3 Tesla. The following must always be reported:\n- pacemakers and other implantable cardiac devices, other stimulators, artificial heart valves, cochlear or ocular implants, metal prostheses and clips: assessed case by case;\n- metal fragments in the body;\n- tattoos and permanent make-up;\n- a pregnancy, even only suspected: the Rome American Hospital excludes the first trimester as a precaution;\n- claustrophobia.","extra1_voci":"","extra1_chiusura":"","extra2_titolo":"Whole body MRI, CT and PET: differences, advantages and limits","extra2_intro":"Compared with X-rays, CT and PET, total body MRI does not use ionizing radiation: this is why MRI is preferred when repeated check-ups at short intervals are needed. In the follow-up of lymphomas that take up the FDG PET-CT tracer little or variably, whole body MRI has shown superior diagnostic performance; in those that take it up, comparable performance.\n\nIn the screening of people without symptoms, however, a 2026 meta-analysis finds few cancers detected, frequent incidental findings, non-standardized protocols and a lack of data on long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.","extra2_voci":"","extra2_chiusura":"","faq_titolo":"Frequently asked questions","faq_voci":"How long does whole body MRI take? | At the Rome American Hospital the complete scan takes about 30 minutes; according to the literature, the basic screening protocol is acquired in less than 30 minutes.\nIs contrast medium or fasting needed? Is there radiation? | At the Rome American Hospital whole body MRI is performed without contrast medium and, like every MRI scan, does not use ionizing radiation. In general no special preparation is needed. With sedation the facility indicates fasting: according to the Italian National Institute of Health, at least 6-8 hours from solid food and liquids.\nDoes it make sense to have whole body MRI for cancer prevention, without symptoms? | It is a choice to be made with the physician. In 2023 the American College of Radiology did not consider the evidence sufficient to recommend total body screening to those without symptoms, risk factors or a family history suggesting a disease. A 2026 meta-analysis also judges its clinical usefulness in people without symptoms to be limited today.\nCan it replace mammography, the Pap test and the fecal occult blood test? | No. Organized cancer screening programs, of proven effectiveness, use mammography between 50 and 69 years of age, the Pap test or HPV test between 25 and 64 and the fecal occult blood test between 50 and 69 (some Regions extend the age ranges). Whole body MRI is not among these tests and the Italian National Institute of Health reminds us that in many cases MRI cannot replace other techniques.\nWhat happens if the examination finds something? | It happens often, and almost always it is not a cancer: according to the literature, in people without symptoms about 30% need further investigations and the suspicion of cancer concerns less than 2%. A finding in an organ is investigated with targeted examinations.\nWhen does the report arrive and who signs it? | The report is written by a radiologist; for whole body MRI the literature recommends radiologists experienced in oncology. The turnaround times are to be asked at the Rome American Hospital when booking.\nCan it be done with a pacemaker, prostheses or tattoos? | They must always be reported in the questionnaire. The Rome American Hospital lists among the contraindications pacemakers, other stimulators, and non-compatible metal devices or metal fragments. The Italian Ministry of Health decree of 14 January 2021 allows MRI even with implantable devices such as pacemakers, but case by case, with the cardiologist and assessing whether the examination is justified: the physician in charge decides. Compatibility also depends on the strength of the magnetic field. Tattoos can rarely cause swelling or burns.\nCan it be done during pregnancy? | A pregnancy, confirmed or suspected, must always be reported. The Rome American Hospital, as a precaution, excludes women in the first trimester from MRI. In the other cases the Ministry of Health decree of 14 January 2021 requires a particularly careful assessment of whether the examination is justified with respect to the clinical question: it is discussed with the physician beforehand.\nI suffer from claustrophobia: can I still have it? | It is advisable to report it beforehand. Suitable solutions are sought, such as mild sedation assessed with the physician: afterwards you cannot drive and someone must take you home. The 3 Tesla MRI scanner at the Rome American Hospital has a wide bore (70 cm), for a lesser feeling of claustrophobia.","nc_sinonimi":"total body MRI, full body scan, magnetic resonance, MRI scan"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Whole Body MRI - Gruppo NefroCenter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Whole Body MRI - Gruppo NefroCenter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Whole Body MRI area covers imaging of the entire body in a single session, without ionizing radiation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/en\/specialita\/whole-body-mri\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gruppo NefroCenter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NefrocenterNefrocenter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-06T10:19:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/en\/specialita\/whole-body-mri\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/test.nefrocenter.it\/en\/specialita\/whole-body-mri\/\",\"name\":\"Whole Body MRI - 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