With celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton singing the praises of full -body magnetic resonance scans, a growing number of people is coughing cash for preventive measure, but is it worth the tranquility of the high price?
Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, more commonly known as “Dr. Mike”, is Podcaster and Primary Care doctor in New Jersey. Recently he talked about full body scans with Andrew Lacy, CEO of Prenuo, one of the largest full -body scan suppliers.
“I have to say that I am certainly intrigued by technology and I am in love with the concept of capturing diseases before we can be more successful with treatment,” said Dr. Mike during the podcast.
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“However, I am not yet sold because this is what Prenuo’s scan has shown. In the day and the age where we are, people want more than medical care than we can deliver.”
How do full -body scans work?
Complete body scans use different technologies, including magnetic resonance (MRI), computerized tomography (TC) or positron emission tomography (PET), according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Complete body scans use a variety of technologies, including magnetic resonance images (MRI), computerized tomography (TC) or positron emission tomography (PET). (Istock)
The objective is to detect early signs of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other abnormalities.
Dr. Daniel Durand, medical director of Prenu, based in Maryland, compared the scan with a “virtual physicist” in which a radiologist examines the interior of the body in a way that a traditional annual physicist cannot.
Prenuvo scan uses magnetic resonance technology to collect a “large amount of health data,” Digital Fox told Fox News.
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“Two license providers analyze these data, explain your relevance directly for you and offer guidance on the next steps necessary to optimize your health,” he said.
Insurance generally does not cover scanning from the whole body.
“The coverage generally varies widely by the insurance plan, the jurisdiction and the specific clinical guidelines for each genetic condition,” Dr. Mike A Fox News Digital said.
A medical director compared the scan with a “virtual physicist” in which a radiologist examines the interior of the body in a way that a traditional annual physicist cannot do. (Prenu)
“My general understanding is that for detection purposes, the test is generally not covered, given the lack of documented clinical benefit versus damage.”
However, some coverage can be offered for those with high -risk genetic syndromes or other specific medical conditions, the doctor said.
“Our hope is that over time, insurers see the many benefits of our proactive approach to medical care and expand coverage,” Durand de Prenu said.
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“We are actively involved in several research studies that could provide a basis for Insurance refund“
Depending on the supplier and the selected options, full -body scan prices can be as high as $ 2,500.
The two largest full -body scanning suppliers are prenuted (based in California) and Ezra (based in New York City).
Potential benefits
Dr. Brett Osborn, Florida neurologist and Longevity expertHe previously spoke with Fox News Digital about the benefits of full -body magnetic resonance scans.
“The full body scan, mainly through MRI, presents a significant advance in the diagnostic capabilities of Modern Medicine,” he said.
“In many cases, the first signs of diseases, such as cancers, infections or aneurysms.”
“Magnetic resonance technology allows a comprehensive and non -invasive examination of the body to detect a wide range of conditions, including cancer and vascular malformations such as aneurysms, without the need for potentially harmful radiographs, as is the case with computerized tomographs, “he said.
Durand said that a prenu exploration can detect many diseases based on changes inside the body that can be detected by MRI.
“In general, these changes occur before symptoms occur or before there are signs in a physical exam,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Magnetic resonance technology allows a comprehensive and non -invasive examination of the body to detect a wide range of conditions, including cancer and vascular malformations such as aneurysms, without the need for potentially harmful X -rays, as is the case of TC explorations,” said a neurosurgeon. (Istock)
“Then, in many cases, the first signs of diseases, such as cancers, infections or aneurysms will be seen,” he continued. “Seeing them before, it can be treated before, hopefully before the disease has done little or no permanent damage.”
Doctors share concerns
Dr. Mike told Fox News Digital that he has not recommended that any of his patients obtain a magnetic resonance detection exploration.
“The high initial cost and the lack of clear medical indication for wide detection (if it is low and asymptomatic) leads me to agree with the main medical organizations that the magnetic resonance detection of the entire body for the general population is not recommended,” he said.
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Much of the popularity of these scans has been driven by celebrities, which sometimes receive them for free, said Dr. Mike, what he finds with respect.
“I understand that even receiving a free scan is a commercial relationship that the FTC requires revealing,” he said. “I understand that companies themselves cannot claim their evidence to save lives, so they work with celebrities who can make personal statements that are not subject to the same research scrutiny.”
“With the current level of technology, I am against full -body scans in favor of the most directed exercises initiated by expert doctors who know what they are looking for,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (Istock)
“This also sends a conflictive message to the consumer and creates confusion.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Nyu Langone Health and Senior Medical Analyst of Fox News, also does not recommend these scan to patients.
“If you make a full body scan, you will be inclined to make every positive finding, whether really significant or not.”
“With the current Technology levelI am against full -body scanning in favor of the most directed works initiated by expert doctors who know what they are looking for, “he told Fox News Digital.
“If you make a full body scan, you will be inclined to make every positive finding, whether really significant or not.”
Siegel also pointed out the high expense and the fact that full -body scans are “frequently too sensitive.”
A doctor warned about mental risks, including anxiety during the procedure (claustrophobia), stress for incidental findings and an increase in health -related concerns. (Istock)
“They can take the most directed and precise place of studies and detection tests that are more appropriate for symptoms, history and genetic tests in specific patients,” Siegel warned.
The doctor also pointed out the current change towards more personalized medical care approaches, “increased not only by genetics, but also artificial intelligence.”
“This will lead to more directed jobs, no more full -body scans.”
The most significant risks that come with these full body scanns, according to Dr. Mike, are the problems that arise with false positives, overdiagnosis and overwhelming.
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There are also mental risks, including anxiety during the procedure (claustrophobia), stress for incidental findings and an increase in health -related concerns, the doctor said.
“Some proponents say that he can relieve health -related anxiety; however, I am quite skeptical about that statement,” he said. “According to my clinical experience, even obtaining a clear scan would ensure tranquility only temporarily.”
“We do not know if we are saving more people by capturing early disease or damaging more people with overdiagnosis, false positives and overtheions.”
The investigation published in 2020 found that abnormalities of images are expected in approximately 95% of the projected subjects, according to the doctor.
“This means that most scanned will have some kind of finding that they presented them,” he said. “I can’t imagine how useful someone already prone to health concerns.”
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During Dr. Mike’s podcast interview with Lcy, Prenuo CEO said long -term data on these detection scans are not yet available.
“Then, currently, we do not know if we are saving more people by detecting early diseases or harming more people with overdiagnosis, false positives and supernadation,” said Dr. Mike.
“Except emergencies, if I do not have clear data on the damages and benefits of an intervention, especially one that is intended to be used in healthy people, I cannot recommend it widely.”
“Before having a CT detection procedure, investigate carefully and consider potential risks and benefits with your doctor,” said the FDA. (Istock)
Prenuo cited a recent study of more than 1,000 patients who were followed for a period of one year.
“In this sample, we find pathologically proven cancer in 2.2% of prenu patients,” Durand told Fox News Digital. “It is important to note that most of these cancers were early, and most were types of cancer for which there is no widely accepted detection exam.”
Health agencies guidelines
The most recent FDA guide echoes the concerns of doctors.
“At this time, the FDA knows no scientific evidence that shows that the scan of the entire body of people without symptoms provides more benefit than damage to people who are evaluated,” the agency said on its website.
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The FDA also warned about “exposure to relatively high radiation” of computerized tomography. While this risk of exposure is “highly overcome” due to the benefits of diagnostic and therapeutic scans, the agency said that for the detection of asymptomatic people throughout the body, “the benefits are questionable.”
“Before having a CT detection procedure, investigate carefully and consider potential risks and benefits with your doctor,” said the FDA.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) also recommends against full -body scans for early detection of tumors in asymptomatic patients.
