The Effectiveness of Whole Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging Used in Health Screening Programs in Early Stage Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: We aim to present the findings and effectiveness of Whole Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (WBMRI), which we use in the Health Screening Program (HSP) to diagnose cancer in early stage. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2017-February 2023. 393 individuals, between the ages of 18 and 85, who underwent WBMRI for HSP purposes, were included. The mean age was 50. Results: Malignancy suspicious lesions were observed in the head/neck region in 25 cases. Additional Magnetic Resonance (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) were performed. Mediastinal pathology was observed in 23 cases, and non-mediastinal thoracic pathologies were detected in 15. Therefore thorax Computed Tomography (CT), mammography, and breast US were performed. Benign lesions were observed in the liver in 44 cases, and US was performed. Malignancy-suspicious lesions in the liver were observed in 4, and dynamic abdominal MRI was performed. Cholelithiasis was observed in 16, and confirmed by US. The most common renal findings were; cysts and pelvicalyceal ectasia. Adrenal adenoma was observed in 5 cases. Two of the females had suspicion of gynecological malignancy. Massive diffuse concentric wall thickening was observed in the sigmoid colon, and colonoscopy was performed on one male. Musculoskeletal benign lesions were detected in 99 cases, and malignancy-suspicious lesions were detected in 35. Additional examinations such as US, CT, MRI, PET-CT, scintigraphy, and colonoscopy were performed on 172 cases. Malignancy was detected in 11 cases (2.8%). Conclusion: WBMRI is a radiation-free, non-invasive, short-term examination method. WBMRI is beneficial in diagnosing early-stage cancer.