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Preventive care

Full-body MRI screening: Reassurance or overdiagnosis?

Although trendy, an elective MRI scan may deliver more questions than answers.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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Full-body MRI scans are marketed as a way to detect hidden cancers and other health conditions before symptoms appear. But these elective scans aren't as precise as medically recommended MRIs and may reveal harmless abnormalities that lead to unnecessary follow-up tests.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is the executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard Health Publishing’s flagship website. … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

photo of James A. Brink, MD

James A. Brink, MD, Contributor

Dr. James A. Brink is chair of enterprise radiology at the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Health System, and the Juan M. Taveras Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Dr. Brink served as chair of … See Full Bio
View all posts by James A. Brink, MD
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