Whole-Body MRI

Full-body magnetic resonance imaging from head to mid-thigh performed on a Siemens 3T system, providing a radiation-free screening survey of all major organ systems, the spine, and the musculoskeletal structures in a single session. The scan uses multi-station acquisition with automated table movement to cover the entire torso and proximal extremities.

Whole-body MRI is the broadest single imaging examination available without ionising radiation. HELIMED performs the scan as a multi-station acquisition — the table advances through five to seven overlapping stations while the system automatically adjusts coil elements, producing a continuous anatomical dataset from the top of the skull through the mid-thigh. Total acquisition time is approximately 60 to 75 minutes. The protocol combines T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at each station. DWI is particularly valuable in the whole-body context because it highlights areas of abnormally high cellularity — which can indicate malignancy, active infection, or inflammatory foci — against a suppressed background. This makes whole-body MRI with DWI a viable alternative to PET-CT for tumour staging and treatment response monitoring in haematological malignancies and selected solid tumours, without the radiation burden of combined CT and radiotracer exposure. Beyond oncological applications, the scan serves as a preventive screening tool for asymptomatic individuals seeking a comprehensive baseline assessment. It simultaneously evaluates brain parenchyma, thoracic organs, abdominal viscera, pelvic structures, spine alignment and disc health, and major joints. Incidental findings — such as renal cysts, hepatic haemangiomas, or degenerative spinal changes — are documented with recommended follow-up pathways. The examination requires sedation availability for claustrophobic patients given the extended bore time.