The Risks of Full-Body Radiology Scans: A Growing Trend with Dangerous Consequences

In recent years, full-body radiology scans have surged in popularity as a preventive health measure marketed directly to consumers. The scans are marketed to detect potential health issues early and these scans have captured the public's imagination with promises of peace of mind and proactive care. However, while these procedures might seem like a logical step toward better health, their rise comes with significant risks—particularly the potential for misinterpretation of results, leading to missed diagnoses and harm.

Neal Bhushan recently filed a case against a company full-body radiology company involving a case where a man in his mid 30’s underwent a full body MRI where there was a vascular blockage missed in the brain. Incredibly, the patient was told that his results were normal. As a result, he suffered a catastrophic ischemic stroke that we alleged could have been treated and prevented with neurological care and treatment had the patient been informed of the vascular blockage.

Full-body imaging, typically using CT or MRI technology, is sold as a comprehensive check-up that can uncover hidden health issues before symptoms arise.

While the marketing sounds compelling, the reality is more complicated. Full-body scans can yield large amounts of data that are difficult to interpret accurately without a specific clinical question guiding the imaging. Here’s why this can lead to harmful outcomes:

1. When scans are performed without specific indications or experienced radiologists to interpret them, abnormalities can be missed. For example, subtle signs of disease—such as a small tumor or an early sign of vascular disease—might go unnoticed, leaving the patient with a false sense of security while their condition worsens.
2. The flipside is that scans often reveal incidental findings—abnormalities that are benign but flagged as suspicious. These findings can lead to a cascade of unnecessary follow-up tests, biopsies, and even surgeries, causing physical, emotional, and financial stress for patients.
3. Many facilities offering these services are for-profit centers rather than traditional medical practices. This raises concerns about the qualifications of the radiologists interpreting the scans. Even experienced radiologists can struggle with full-body imaging because the context of patient history, symptoms, and clinical guidance is often lacking.

Cases are emerging of patients receiving full-body scans with critical findings being missed or misinterpreted. For example:

• Missed early cancers: A patient might undergo a full-body scan that fails to identify a small but aggressive tumor, delaying critical treatment.
• Overlooked vascular abnormalities: Conditions like an aneurysm may go undetected if the scans are not read with sufficient expertise or focus

Such scenarios not only cause harm but erode trust in the broader medical community.

The growing popularity of full-body radiology scans underscores a desire for control over our health in an uncertain world. However, more imaging does not automatically translate into better health outcomes. Without careful use and expert interpretation, these scans risk doing more harm than good by fostering false security, unnecessary anxiety, or worse, missed diagnoses. As with all medical interventions, the key lies in thoughtful application, guided by evidence and expertise.

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