FAQ

Understanding Basics of MRI

Is this a replacement for my primary care doctor?

No. Whole-body MRI should be viewed as a complement to traditional medical care, not a replacement. Whole-body MRI is not meant to replace your physician nor serve as your primary care provider. Routine preventive care—such as physical exams, laboratory tests, and recommended screenings—remains essential. Imaging simply provides an additional layer of information that may help identify structural or vascular changes earlier.

What if something is found on my scan?

If your scan reveals any findings that require attention, our team will guide you through the results with clarity and care—helping you understand what they mean and answering any questions along the way. If appropriate, we’ll recommend next steps or follow-up care, and you’ll always have full access to your results to share with your physician or care team as needed.

Is MRI safe?

An MRI is highly safe and painless, as it uses magnetic fields and radio waves instead of ionizing radiation.

What is a whole-body MRI?

Whole-body MRI is a non-invasive imaging screening technique that allows physicians to evaluate many organs and tissues throughout the body in a single exam. Unlike CT scans, MRI does not use ionizing radiation. Instead, it uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of organs, blood vessels, and soft tissues.

At Veralux, the goal is not simply to produce images—it is to translate those images into meaningful health insight.

What is a common misconception about whole-body imaging?

One misconception is that screening imaging is about “looking for cancer everywhere.” In reality, most scans are normal. The real value is identifying meaningful abnormalities early enough that patients have options and time.

Isn’t whole-body MRI likely to create false positives or unnecessary anxiety?

That’s an important question and one we take seriously. Imaging can reveal incidental findings, which is why expert interpretation and careful communication are essential.

Most findings on screening MRI are benign or require no action. The role of an experienced radiologist is to distinguish between findings that are clinically meaningful and those that are simply normal variation, and to provide clear guidance so patients are not left uncertain about what their results mean. We call this responsible coordinated care.

Can screening imaging lead to overdiagnosis?

Overdiagnosis is a legitimate consideration in any screening program. The key is thoughtful patient selection and careful interpretation of results. Imaging is just one piece of the larger preventive health picture. When used appropriately, it can provide valuable structural information about the body that complements other medical evaluations and helps patients and their physicians make more informed decisions.

Is whole-body MRI meant to replace traditional screening tests?

No, and it shouldn’t. Whole-body MRI is best viewed as a complement to standard medical care. Established screenings such as colonoscopy, mammography, gynecologic exam/pap smear, and routine laboratory testing remain extremely important. Imaging simply provides another layer of information by allowing physicians to look at the body’s structure in a comprehensive way.

Is this just concierge medicine for wealthy patients?

Preventive health tools often emerge first outside traditional insurance models, but the goal is not exclusivity—it’s innovation in how we think about prevention. Many people today are increasingly proactive about their health and want deeper insight into their bodies.

Imaging can provide information that helps them make more informed lifestyle and medical decisions over time. Our hope is that insurance networks will see the value in this service soon. We do accept HSA/FSA and offer interest-free financing through Affirm.

If MRI can’t detect every disease, what is the real value?

No medical test detects everything, and MRI is no exception. Its strength is that it can visualize many organs and tissues throughout the body without radiation and identify structural abnormalities that might otherwise go unnoticed. The real value is not perfection—it’s gaining meaningful insight that can contribute to earlier awareness and better-informed health decisions.

What happens if the scan identifies something that needs further evaluation?

If a finding is identified that warrants additional evaluation, the Veralux team will:
1. Explain the finding and its potential significance
2. Recommend appropriate follow-up
3. Help coordinate next steps with the patient’s physician or specialist

This ensures that preventive screening is paired with clear guidance and appropriate clinical follow-up.

What are the limitations of whole body MRI?

A full list of our MRI scan limitations and disclosures can be found here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Preventative Vs Diagnostic

What's the difference between the scan options?

Each scan option targets a different area of the body, providing you with the right information you need to move forward. For our most comprehensive view, we recommend the Veralux Illuminate.

Why should someone get a whole-body MRI if they feel healthy?

Many diseases develop silently before symptoms appear. Whole-body MRI allows us to look for structural changes earlier and provide insight that can help guide long-term health decisions.

As radiologists, we spend our careers identifying subtle patterns of disease on imaging. Whole-body MRI allows us to look for those early signals before symptoms appear and provide patients with clearer insight into their health.

The goal isn’t to search for disease in everyone—it’s to bring greater clarity to health.

Why is early detection so powerful?

Many diseases develop quietly for years before symptoms appear. When we detect structural changes earlier, patients often have more choices and better opportunities to protect their long-term health.

Is the Veralux scan used to diagnose medical problems?

No. The Veralux scan is designed as a preventive screening tool, not as diagnostic imaging for acute or problem-focused medical care.

‍Preventive screening and diagnostic imaging serve different purposes in medicine.

A Veralux scan is intended for individuals who are generally well and want a comprehensive assessment of their health before symptoms develop. The goal is to look broadly across the body for early signs of disease or risk factors that may benefit from monitoring or preventive care.

Diagnostic imaging, by contrast, is typically performed when a patient has specific symptoms or a known medical concern that requires targeted evaluation.

When should diagnostic imaging be used instead?

Diagnostic imaging is more appropriate when a patient has:
• New or worsening symptoms
• Acute medical concerns
• A known condition that requires focused evaluation
• An injury or urgent medical issue

‍In those situations, imaging ordered by a treating physician is typically targeted to a specific body region or clinical question.

Examples include:
• Evaluation of acute pain or neurologic symptoms
• Investigation of suspected infection or injury
• Imaging for cancer staging or treatment planning

These situations require problem-focused diagnostic imaging, which is different from preventive screening.

What MAkes Veralux Different

What kind of results will I receive?

An MRI provides highly detailed, cross-sectional images of your body’s soft tissues, organs, and bones. You will have full access to your images, plus a thorough report on our findings.

How does your oncology imaging background influence how you read these scans?

Years of oncology imaging train the eye to recognize subtle patterns of disease. In cancer imaging, very small details can matter, and that pattern recognition becomes incredibly valuable when evaluating preventive screening studies.

What does a Veralux scan evaluate?

A Veralux scan provides a comprehensive view of the body, illuminating organ and brain health, body composition, and important structural markers of long-term health, all in a single exam. We can detect cancer, inflammatory disease, vascular abnormalities, metabolic dysfunction, and hundreds of medical conditions.

What makes Veralux different from other MRI screening programs?

Many MRI screening programs focus primarily on the technology or the scan itself. These screening programs simply sell a scan. At Veralux, we believe the true value of imaging comes from the expertise and guidance behind it. Veralux delivers physician-guided preventive imaging, with responsible medical oversight and elite level care.

Veralux was founded and is led by experienced physicians who have spent decades interpreting complex medical exams and identifying disease—particularly cancer—often at its earliest stages. This experience allows us to develop advanced imaging techniques optimized to detect disease and medical prowess to recognize subtle patterns and translate imaging findings into meaningful, actionable insights for patients.

Our entire team is aligned with our mission of preventive health screening. Our lead MRI technologist practiced directly in the medical oncology field for more than a decade and is specially trained in MRI safety, providing the best, safest care possible for our patients.

As a physician-owned and physician-led practice, Veralux is built on trust, accountability, and a commitment to compassionate patient care. We continually seek the latest advances in imaging and medical knowledge to illuminate the most important information for our patients’ health and to help guide the path forward.

What do you hope patients gain from a Veralux scan?

Our goal is clarity and confidence.

When people understand their health more clearly, they can make better decisions about prevention, follow-up, and long-term wellness.

What is the goal of preventive whole-body MRI?

The goal is early insight and reassurance.
‍
Preventive MRI can help:
• Provide reassurance when no concerning findings are present
• Identify conditions that may benefit from monitoring
• Detect certain diseases earlier, when treatment options are often greatest

This type of screening allows patients to gain clarity about their health before problems arise.

Why does Veralux emphasize screening rather than diagnosis?

Preventive medicine focuses on detecting risks and disease earlier, often before symptoms appear.

By combining advanced MRI technology with expert physician interpretation, Veralux aims to help patients gain a clearer understanding of their health and potential risks, while ensuring that individuals with symptoms receive the appropriate diagnostic evaluation through their treating physicians.

How To prepare for your scan

Do I need a referral to get a scan?

You do not need a referral from your primary care physician or specialist to book a preventive screening scan (Index, Insight, Illuminate scans).

For clinical scans, we do require an order from your provider.

Will I be comfortable during the scan?

Our MRI technologists are committed to creating an experience that feels calm, comfortable, and fully supportive from the moment you arrive. We understand that MRI appointments can lead to a lot of anxiety, which is why our team is there to guide you through every step with patience and care.

When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed into a private guest suite with soft MRI-safe scrubs and a plush robe. During your scan, you can relax with music, a favorite movie, or a TV show while our team ensures you feel informed, safe, and at ease throughout the experience. After your scan, you are welcome to enjoy any of the snacks or beverages available in the lounge before you head home.

How soon will I get my results?

You can expect to get your results within one week after your scan. Look for an email notification to access your patient portal.

What are the requirements of whole body MRI?

MRI uses strong magnetic fields, so certain implants or metal objects may prevent someone from having the scan. Many modern implants are absolute or major contraindications and include but are not limited to:
• Non-MRI compatible pacemakers
• Some implantable defibrillators
• Certain cochlear implants
• Some brain aneurysm clips
• Retained metal fragments (e.g., shrapnel)

‍Metal Screening: Before the scan you will be required to complete a metal safety questionnaire and you must remove all metal objects for the scan, including but not limited to:
• Jewelry
• Watches
• Glasses
• Piercings
• Hairpins
• Hearing aids
• Removable dental appliances
• Magnetic makeup/eyelashes/nail polish

‍Fasting Requirements: Patients must fast for a minimum of 4 hours before the scan. This reduces motion from bowel activity and improves abdominal imaging.

‍Ability to Remain Still: Whole body MRI scan can take between 30-60 minutes inside the scanner. These require minimal movement which can blur images and reduce image diagnostic quality. People with claustrophobia, chronic pain, and tremor may find this requirement difficult.

‍Size & Weight Limits: MRI machines have bore size and table weight limits. Our bore diameter is 70 cm and our table weight limit is 500 lbs; body habitus can also create restrictions.

‍Pregnancy Considerations: MRI is generally considered safe in pregnancy, but we do not perform this elective whole body MRI screen on pregnant patients out of an abundance of caution.

‍Clothing Requirements: Because some personal clothing contains metallic fibers or zippers, you will be asked to wear provided MRI-safe scrubs during your scan.

The questions our patients are asking the most

Understanding Basics of MRI

Preventative Vs Diagnostic

What MAkes Veralux Different

How To prepare for your scan

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