Celebrities get $2,000 MRI scans to learn about their health. Should you do that?

WASHINGTON – What if there was a way to peer into your body and see the early signs of cancer and other life-threatening diseases before they get worse?

That’s the thinking from a new group of companies selling high-tech gadgets to healthy people who want to learn more about their health.

These whole body MRI scans are not cheap. Startup companies like Prenuvo charge between $1,000 and $2,500 for various scanning options, none of which are currently covered by insurance.

Proponents say consumer-driven medical devices are the next logical step in preventive medicine. The industry has received huge publicity from celebrities and influencers like Kim Kardashian, who blogged about her Prenuvo scanner last year.

But many medical experts say the companies are selling expensive, unproven technology that could cause more anxiety and unnecessary treatment, while raising costs for the US health care system.

Here’s what you should know before considering a scan:

What is an MRI?

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It is a type of medical examination that uses magnetic fields to produce clear images of organs, bones and other parts of the body. Unlike many other types of equipment, MRIs do not use radiation.

Doctors will order an MRI to help diagnose cancer, brain injuries, damaged blood vessels and other medical conditions. A full-body scan can take an hour or more, with patients lying motionless in a cylindrical tube.

Medical organizations only recommend routine, full-body exams for certain high-risk groups, such as people with a high genetic risk of cancer.

Dr. Ernest Hawk, vice president at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“But then you move them earlier to the population at risk and that’s where you run into these unanswered questions.”

Why do people pay for them?

Companies like Prenuvo say their scans can help identify more than 500 health conditions that go unnoticed during a doctor’s visit.

The company charges $999 for an autopsy, $1,799 for a head and torso or $2,499 for a full body. Many other companies offer similar services and prices.

Prenuvo’s chief medical officer, Dr. Daniel Durand, says consumers can decide for themselves whether the price is worth it.

“We’re trying to give people an opportunity to be more active with their lives,” Durand said.

Along with scans and an easy-to-read summary of results, customers can speak with a nurse or doctor employed by Prenuvo to discuss next steps.

The company says it doesn’t pay for deals but will sometimes “offer a positive review for an unbiased review.”

Possible problems

Many radiologists say the chance of finding a serious problem, such as a cancerous tumor or brain aneurysm, in someone who has no symptoms is very low.

Instead, the scans may mark streaks that are usually harmless. Getting rid of the problem may require additional tests, appointments, and even surgery.

“You’ll end up with a lot of coincidences,” said Dr. Mina Makary, a radiologist at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “That will cause stress or anxiety for the patient, including additional costs for tests and procedures that may have risks.”

Experts are also concerned that people undergoing MRI scans may start skipping other routine tests, such as mammograms.

“You’ve tested and found nothing, so you say, ‘Gee, I don’t need to do the other things that my doctor recommends that are proven to prolong life,'” Hawk said.

Medical experts say…

The American College of Radiology does not recommend MRI screening in asymptomatic people, saying there is no “documented evidence” the procedure is “cost-effective or effective in prolonging life.”

The Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved any MRI machine for preventive testing, but doctors are free to use the devices however they choose.

There are examples of painting practices that were once considered experimental but later became mainstream practice. Prenuvo executives say their approach could follow a similar path.

“The evidence will change over time but patients don’t want to wait 30 years to be in a position to benefit from it,” Prenuvo’s Durand said.

More studies are needed

The studies needed to show such a benefit would have to be very large and long-term, based on age-diverse populations, according to experts.

Prenuvo recently announced plans to survey 100,000 people and study their lives over time. The study is not expected to be completed until 2034 or later.

Most people who enroll in the Prenuvo study are expected to pay a $2,200 fee.

But finally, academic or government scholarships can give people the opportunity to participate in such research without paying a lot of money.

“This is a great place to participate in a research study that can provide the information you’re looking for, while helping to answer whether this is good or not,” Hawk said.

But to do so outside of education makes no sense.