Whole Body Wide-Bore MRI Screening
A proactive look at your health — without ionizing radiation
Parkwood Open Imaging offers whole body MRI screening as a broad, non-invasive option for patients seeking early awareness, baseline imaging, and proactive health insights using high-field Wide-Bore technology.
What is Whole Body MRI?
Whole Body MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of internal body structures—completely free of ionizing radiation.
Unlike a diagnostic MRI ordered for a specific localized symptom, a whole-body screening exam provides a broad anatomical overview across multiple major body regions for general assessment.
Possible exam coverage
Head and neck
Brain structure, soft tissues, and major head and neck anatomy
Spine
Overview of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal regions
Chest region
Selected internal thoracic and soft-tissue structures
Abdomen
Liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, and surrounding organ anatomy
Pelvis
Pelvic organs, lymph nodes, and nearby soft tissues
Musculoskeletal system
Selected bones, major joints, and adjacent soft tissues
Exact exam coverage varies based on the chosen screening package, system capabilities, and radiologist-approved protocols.
Why patients choose Whole Body MRI
- • Seek a broad health and wellness screening option without radiation exposure
- • Have a family history of specific medical conditions or risk factors
- • Desire baseline imaging for future medical comparison over time
- • Want to take an empowered, proactive role in personal health planning
- • Wish to gather additional anatomical insights to discuss with their primary physician
What Whole Body MRI may identify
Whole Body MRI may detect anatomical variations or unexpected findings that warrant medical review, such as solid or fluid-filled masses, cysts, structural spinal changes, joint degeneration, or organ abnormalities.
Incidental Findings & Follow-up: Screening scans frequently reveal benign "incidentalomas"—harmless variations (such as simple cysts or benign hemangiomas) that require no medical intervention. If your report indicates an abnormality requiring evaluation, any subsequent diagnostic testing, laboratory work, or specialist visits are the medical and financial responsibility of the patient.
Screening Limitations: No imaging test can detect every disease or cellular change. A normal screening result does not guarantee the complete absence of illness or prevent future disease.
Does not replace standard medical care
Elective Whole Body MRI is designed to complement—never replace—routine preventive healthcare and recommended diagnostic testing.
Patients must continue guideline-based care directed by their physician, including annual wellness exams, bloodwork, mammography, cervical cancer screening (Pap smears), colonoscopies, low-dose lung CTs for qualified individuals, and prostate evaluations.
Advanced Wide-Bore comfort
Your comfort is central to our imaging process. Parkwood Open Imaging utilizes high-field Wide-Bore MRI technology featuring a spacious 70cm opening and an ultra-short tunnel design.
Unlike traditional, tight tunnel MRIs, our system provides significantly more clearance and room to breathe. The short scanner length allows many exams to be performed with your head outside the machine, offering a supportive environment for patients with anxiety or claustrophobia.
MRI safety & pre-screening
Although MRI is non-invasive and safe for most individuals, strict safety screening is required prior to entering the magnetic room.
You must inform our clinical staff if you have a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, implanted neurostimulator, cochlear implant, brain aneurysm clip, drug infusion pump, metal shrapnel, prior eye injuries involving metal, surgical hardware, or severe kidney disease, or if you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
Reports & physician consultation
Whole Body MRI screening is performed without intravenous contrast. If a specific area requires detailed investigation, your physician may subsequently order a targeted diagnostic MRI (with or without contrast), CT scan, ultrasound, or lab panel.
Your images will be reviewed by a board-certified radiologist who generates a formal diagnostic report. Parkwood Open Imaging provides imaging interpretations but does not provide ongoing clinical treatment; all findings should be formally reviewed with your primary care provider.
Who may benefit
Elective Whole Body MRI is suitable for generally healthy adults seeking a baseline anatomical assessment or supplementary wellness information to share with their medical team.
Emergency Notice: Whole Body MRI is not an emergency service. If you are experiencing acute symptoms—such as severe chest pain, sudden weakness, stroke-like symptoms, sudden severe headache, major trauma, or severe abdominal pain—call 911 or proceed immediately to an emergency room.
Screening options & payment details
Parkwood Open Imaging offers tailored screening selections to fit your goals, including targeted region screening (head/neck, spine, torso) as well as comprehensive whole-body packages.
Elective Whole Body MRI screening is typically an out-of-pocket self-pay service and is generally not covered by commercial insurance or Medicare. All pricing is reviewed upfront prior to your scan. Patients are encouraged to check with their FSA or HSA administrator regarding eligibility for reimbursement.
Frequently asked questions
Does Whole Body MRI use radiation?
No. Magnetic resonance imaging utilizes magnetic fields and radio waves, completely avoiding ionizing radiation.
Does a clear Whole Body MRI guarantee I am 100% healthy?
No single test can detect all diseases. While Whole Body MRI provides exceptional anatomical imaging, it cannot detect microscopic disease, blood disorders, or early cellular shifts, and should always be combined with routine doctor visits.
Can it detect cancer?
It can identify structural masses or lesions, but it cannot detect all cancer types and must not replace recommended cancer screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies.
Is the machine completely open?
We utilize high-field Wide-Bore MRI technology. It features an extra-wide 70cm opening and an ultra-short tunnel, providing significantly more headroom and space than standard MRIs to ease claustrophobia while maintaining high image quality.
Schedule Whole Body MRI Imaging
Take a proactive step toward understanding your health. Contact Parkwood Open Imaging to learn more about our Wide-Bore screening packages and schedule your visit.