Frequently asked questions
Nearly all of us have some degree of imaging “abnormalities'' and findings. In many cases, these may reflect typical aging-related changes, “wear-and-tear” degenerative changes, or physical changes related to lifestyle or other modifiable risk-factors, which may not be directly clinically actionable right away but may be associated with development of clinically-significant disease over the long-term.
For example, as a generation of people who spend a lot of time sitting (using computers, cell phones, watching TV) we diagnose some degree of spine degeneration in almost everyone. In other situations, many of us have benign lesions, which can often be characterized as such with a high level of confidence (or specificity) based on their MRI features as seen on the Prenuvo screening scan; and while often termed “incidental” imaging findings, by having these documented at the time of healthy baseline (which can then be used as a basis for future comparisons) it both minimizes the chance that those benign findings are not mistaken for something more serious later on as well enables the chance to detect potential more subtle-but-concerning changes over time.
Yes. You can drink water, tea or black coffee. Depending on the scan you are taking, you will be in the MRI machine for up to 75 mins, so we recommend that you visit the restroom before going in.
Affirm does not charge any late or NSF fees.
Our open bore MRI machines can accommodate a table weight limit of up to 550 pounds. The scanner diameter is 70cm and patients must be smaller than 70 cm at their largest point of measurement (with the addition of equipment).
Yes, you can book an appointment for another person. However you will need to give us that person's details, and we will need to contact them in order to get their patient history and ensure that the scan is appropriate for them.
Unfortunately, no. We only sell gift cards for each of our scans (Whole Body, Head & Torso, and Torso).
Yes! Visit to purchase gift cards for US locations, navigate here. For gift cards to be redeemed at Canadian locations, navigate here.
No detrimental effects have been shown to have occurred due to having an MRI when pregnant. There is, however, a risk of causing hearing problems in the fetus due to the sounds that occur throughout MRI imaging. MRI can also increase the amniotic fluid temperature. Therefore, we avoid performing screening MRI when you are pregnant.
We recommend that you fast for 4 hours before your scan so we can take the clearest images of your stomach, bowel, and gallbladder.
Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to scan people with pacemakers, as there is a risk that the MRI magnetic fields will disrupt its operation.
It depends on the model. Some infusion pumps are MRI compatible. We’ll ask you to provide us with the model number of your pump prior to your scan and will verify whether or not you can safely receive an MRI. check the MRI safety of all devices. We will need to know the model before your scan.
It depends on the type of implant you have. We will ask you to tell us about your specific implant prior to the scan so we can verify whether it is safe to have a scan. Please note, however, that even if it is safe to perform an MRI, the implant will likely affect the quality of imaging that we can do of the head.
There are many different types of implants. We will need to know more about what you have. The good news is that almost all implants are MRI-safe. There is a chance, however, that the implant will affect the images we can get from the surrounding tissues.
Yes. Almost all IUDs are MRI-safe. Regardless, we check the MRI safety of all devices. Common MRI-safe IUDs are the Mirena and the Copper T.
It depends on the model. Some neurostimulators have an MRI mode that they can be put into before the scan. We will need to know the model before your scan.
It depends on the type of clip that has been implanted, so we would need to have more information about it. MRI can be performed safely in patients with non-ferromagnetic aneurysm clips.
Yes. There will be extra precautions we will take to ensure your safety while in the machine, so please inform our staff before entering the MRI.
Yes. This is completely safe.
Yes, people with tattoos can be scanned. There is a small chance of warming in the area of the tattoo but this very rarely occurs. Please inform our staff before entering the MRI so we are aware.
If there is a chance that there are metal fragments in your body, particularly in the eyes, we will require a quick X-ray to ensure that it is safe for you to do a scan. Please contact us a week or two before your scan so that we can arrange the X-ray.
We will make sure that you are as comfortable as possible for the scan, which should minimize the need to move. However, if you do move, this is not a safety issue. It just affects the quality of the images we can obtain. Part of what enhances the overall accuracy of our scan is that our technique involves multiparametric multiplanar MRI. This means we image the same tissue in your body a number of different times in different directions and at different tissue weightings. If you move, it affects our ability to align all these images and therefore potentially affects the accuracy of our reading.
Yes you can! Visit one of our locations and our staff will help you.
Yes. You can do this at any time and there are no penalties or fees for early repayments. To pay off your current balance, please login to the [Affirm Customer Portal](https://www.affirm.ca/user/signin?locale=en_CA) with the phone number you used to sign up. If you have any additional questions about your account or payment schedule, [send us a message here. ](https://helpcenter.affirm.ca/ca/s/contact-us?language=en_US)
No. U.S. gift cards can be redeemed at US locations only. The same applies for Canadian gift cards and our Canadian locations.
Yes you can. You can either pay with an FSA/HSA credit card or seek reimbursement via your FSA/HSA.
No. The Prenuvo scan should not be considered as a replacement to any standard clinical guidelines-based targeted screening practices for specific types of cancer or other health conditions.
Typically Alzheimer’s disease is a clinical diagnosis. However, imaging can play a role in evaluating Alzheimer’s at various stages. If you have advanced Alzheimer's, it will typically be reflected visibly in the images of your brain in the form of characteristic patterns of brain atrophy. This may include things like loss of tissue volume in particular in regions of the temporal lobes. Additionally, serial longitudinal screening with brain MRI may provide a useful biomarker for risk factors or warning signs of developing Alzheimer’s. This can be done by looking at brain tissue volume changes over time, comparing images from earlier baseline scans to later follow up scans in order to monitor for abnormal changes in volume overall and within specific structures. Our most comprehensive Prenuvo scan option includes an additional brain MRI series that can be used for additional precise volumetric assessment to track these changes over time. If you are concerned about having Alzheimer's, we suggest you also undergo a clinical cognitive assessment.
For US clinics, we do not require a referral. For Canadian clinics, you will need a referral.
If you require, we can arrange a referral from an independent medical practitioner at no cost to you. It may seem like an unnecessary requirement, but it exists to look after you in the event there is a serious medical finding. A medical practitioner can additionally assist you in understanding and contextualizing the findings in your Prenuvo scan report.
Prenuvo scans do not expose you to harmful ionizing radiation that other imaging methods (X-rays, CT scans, PET scans) use. Prenuvo scans also don't use intravascular contrast dyes.
No. It is safe to have an MRI with dental implants. For image quality, we will ask you to remove dentures if they are on a metallic plate.
Yes, we accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
We do accept cash, but we regret that we are unable to accept personal checks.
We do not add tax to the cost of your Prenuvo scan.
We offer 3rd party financing through Affirm in the US for most locations.
We do. You can purchase one in store or online and have it shipped. If purchasing online, please navigate here for US gift cards and here for Canadian gift cards.
Yes. We take payment to guarantee your appointment time and date.
No. Our Prenuvo screening scans are designed to be performed completely without IV-contrast. We believe that the comprehensiveness and diagnostic-grade quality of the combined imaging sequences utilized in our Prenuvo multiparametric MRI protocol maintains the sufficient level of sensitivity and specificity required for tumor-detection in the general population screening setting. We therefore do not administer any exogenous contrast agents for any of our scans (which are performed for general screening), as we do not find it of added value by routine. By avoiding IV-contrast administration (therefore avoiding any needles and injections), we also avoid the degree of invasiveness associated with other imaging procedures that do require contrast; similarly we also avoid the risks of any adverse reactions (such as allergic reactions) or potential longer-term toxicity effects that are rarely associated with use of IV-contrast agents.
No. All MRIs are radiation-free.
Unfortunately, we cannot generally refer you to a specialist directly at this time. However, we want to collaborate with any of the medical professionals you have. We’re also happy to work with your doctor to make sure that you are taken care of.
Yes. We follow federal and state/provincial specific legislation for each clinic regarding retention of medical records. Additionally, the medical benefit of this is that when our patients return for follow-up Prenuvo scans, we can refer to the prior baseline scans for comparison purposes and make the best determination as to the clinical significance of observed changes over time.
What sets us prominently apart from other “Full Body Scan” services is that we are led by a unique synergistic team of pioneers in clinical radiology and MRI-technology. Specifically, we have innovated a custom Whole-Body MRI (WB-MRI) protocol optimizing for maximal utility in the preventive healthcare screening setting.
In contrast to some other Full Body Scan approaches, which may involve components from other modalities (such as CT of the chest) and/or separate segmental MRI exams which might not get holistically evaluated or which also may not fully include some intervening anatomical regions, our protocol relies solely on MRI-techniques alone. We utilize dedicated multiparametric WB-MRI techniques in conjunction with carefully selected relevant high-yield organ-specific sequences obtained in a single rapid image acquisition procedure. This enables a convenient, comfortable experience for the patient, as well as superior holistic “Full Body Scan” radiological interpretation capabilities.
In developing this protocol and the specialized techniques involved, our team has emphasized image acquisition speed without comprising comprehensiveness or diagnostic quality of the obtained images, which is the typical tradeoff in MRI when attempting to image faster and with larger fields of view. To maximize the amount of clinically valuable proactive information from the WB-MRI scan – such as maximizing the overall sensitivity and specificity of the scan (thereby minimizing false positive and false negative rates) for conditions like suspected cancer findings, brain aneurysm, and fatty liver— it is essential to utilize a comprehensive multiparametric MRI approach.
Similar to utilizing different filters on a camera lens to capture different color properties of a scene into a photograph, multiparametric MRI acts as a filter for capturing different properties of the tissue being imaged. Beyond simply acquiring images that in sum cover most of your body’s anatomy to simply be able to offer a “Full Body Scan” product, we take particular pride in the quality and comprehensiveness of our images from our Prenuvo WB-MRI scan protocol for their maximal diagnostic and clinical utility in the screening setting. Additionally, our radiologists are uniquely specialized in the science and clinical art of whole-body screening radiology utilizing WB-MRI — which involves taking into account complexities from the individual patient’s perspective, the referring or treating physician’s perspective, and the healthcare system’s perspective. Enriched by this special clinical experience, our unique specialized radiology practice has grown into a completely patient-centered radiological WB-MRI screening service (adept at handling and risk-stratifying the wide spectrum of possible findings that can be encountered on screening WB-MRI). Due to our emphasis on diagnostic quality, clinical utility, and patient experience, this service has been very well-received by our proactive-minded patients and referring providers.
We offer financing for Prenuvo scans in the US.
Purchasing a scan with financing through Affirm can only be done online. Click here to watch a video on how to book online with Affirm.
If you have more questions on booking a Prenuvo scan with Affirm visit our FAQ page and filter by "Affirm" or call us at +18337736886.
You can make an appointment online or give us a call at +1-833-773-6886.
Affirm will help you set up convenient, pre-authorized payments via your Canadian bank account, or a Visa/Mastercard credit/debit card. Available payment methods may vary depending on the payment plan selected.
Purchasing directly with an FSA/HSA card:
You can book a Prenuvo scan through our booking platform and use your FSA/HSA card as you would any other credit card.
Seeking indirect reimbursement:
After booking a scan through our booking platform, you can submit your receipt to your HSA or FSA provider as proof of purchase.
We recommend that you contact your HSA or FSA provider to ensure that a Prenuvo scan meets their requirements, since employers can set their own eligibility rules. If you're using FSA funds, your purchase must be made during your FSA plan year to be eligible for reimbursement.
For any other questions regarding to reimbursement or booking, call us at +18337736886 or email us at ambassador@prenuvo.com.
To redeem a gift card and book a scan, you can call in to our phone number +1 833 773 6886 or stop by your nearest clinic.
We are very protective of your information. We strive to be at the forefront of compliance for the security of patient information and adhere to privacy regulations and legislation in the jurisdictions we operate. The confidential information which we store is accessible only by a small number of staff who must have a reason to access the information. Any staff access to patient-identifiable data is logged and stored by the company.
GRAIL's blood-based test and Prenuvo's whole-body MRI scans offer complementary approaches to early detection. Prenuvo's scans use MRI technology to provide detailed imaging that can identify certain abnormalities in organs and tissues. They are different tests, and it's up to the patient to decide how they would integrate either scan into their healthcare practice. At John Hancock, we’re proud to offer our customers access to emerging technologies – like Galleri and Prenuvo – that can help them take control of their health and hopefully drive better outcomes.
Bigger is not always better," and the answer really is that it depends. For our purposes of Whole-Body MRI screening, 1.5T is actually preferred relative to 3T. While a 3T MRI may generally be a better option for a targeted brain or knee MRI evaluated, 3T performs worse for whole-body MRI purposes. This is due to wavelength interference (physics!) and imaging artifacts (more physics!) which become more exaggerated at 3T. Additionally, a 3T MRI increases the body temperature 4x more than a 1.5T MRI, which limits the number of images a 3T can obtain in the same time frame (this phenomenon is described by SAR or "specific absorption rate"--yet more physics!). Therefore, 3T MRI's are best used for more targeted, typically single body part, evaluations. As we specialize in whole body imaging, we use 1.5T MRI."
The Prenuvo scan should not be considered as a replacement to any standard clinical guidelines-based targeted screening practices for specific types of cancer or other health conditions. For breast cancer screening in particular, mammography remains the gold standard screening option for breast cancer. Similarly, while there are inherent pros/cons between mammography and breast MRI, a subtlety worth understanding is that "imaging the breasts with MRI'' is not the same as performing "breast MRI" (which is a specific targeted breast evaluation utilizing particular MRI techniques). While the breasts are imaged as part of the Prenuvo WB-MRI technique, the Prenuvo MRI technique does not include the specific techniques involved on standard dedicated breast MRI. Therefore, regarding breast cancer screening in particular, the Prenuvo scan can be considered an adjunct, but not a replacement for dedicated breast imaging or primary breast cancer screening practices. However, as the breasts are imaged anyways as part of the WB-MRI technique utilized by Prenuvo, if a concerning abnormality in the breasts is demonstrated, this would be reported and appropriate follow-up recommended.
To check booking availability, navigate to our booking platform.
Prenuvo provides whole body MRIs that are safe (no radiation), fast (diagnostic-quality imaging in less than an hour), and non-invasive (no injection of harmful dye). Prenuvo invests heavily in customized hardware and develops its own software acquisition protocols. Beyond the images Prenuvo acquires, the radiology approach at Prenuvo is informed by the fact that they are evaluating patients in a screening rather than a diagnostic context.
If you are flexible as to when you can come to the clinic, we can usually accommodate you within 1 to 2 weeks. You are able to see real-time availability by going to our booking portal.
Most authorizations are reversed within 24 hours, however this is ultimately up to your financial institution, and may take 5-10 business days to be reflected on your credit card statement.
You will generally receive your report within 5 business days (with the exception of Vancouver which is within 20 business days). We always do our best to release results even earlier, and in some cases they might be released a little bit later.
Approximately 5 business days. Please budget more time during busy shipping seasons (e.g. the holidays).
There is no need to dress in a particular way for your scan day. You will be given a set of scrubs (top and bottom) to wear during your scan. You can leave your underwear on.
If you are or suspect that you might be claustrophobic, you can request a mild sedative from your referring doctor to have with you for your Prenuvo scan. If necessary for your comfort, we can also reduce the scan time, but this could potentially reduce the comprehensiveness (overall sensitivity and/or specificity) of the scan slightly. In all cases, your deposit is non-refundable or transferable if you are unable to go through with your Prenuvo scan on the day of.
If you ate something, don't worry. It is perfectly safe to still have your scan. Depending on how much you ate, it just means that we may have a slightly more obscured view of your stomach, bowel, and gallbladder.
The simple answer is yes. The Prenuvo scan should not be considered as a replacement to any standard clinical guidelines-based targeted screening practices for specific types of cancer or other health conditions. For colon cancer screening in particular, screening colonoscopy remains the gold standard option. While unpleasant, a colonoscopy is a very good examination of the colon. It is used not just to see, but also to remove on the spot precancerous polyps before they have the opportunity to develop into cancer. Additionally, a subtlety worth understanding is that "imaging the colon with MRI'' is not the same as performing "dedicated imaging of the colon" (AKA colonography), which involves specific techniques and scan prep which are not specifically employed in the Prenuvo WB-MRI technique. For example, as no bowel prep is utilized for the Prenuvo scan, we would be relatively less sensitive/specific for colon polyps, which can be obscured by stool. While we have detected cases of colon cancer, even at stage 1, the Prenuvo scan can be thought of as an adjunct but not a replacement for primary colon cancer screening via standard guidelines-based procedures such as colonoscopy. However, as the colon is imaged anyway as part of the WB-MRI technique utilized by Prenuvo, if a concerning abnormality in the colon is demonstrated this would be reported and appropriate follow-up recommended.
There are several advantages that make MRI a particularly attractive screening modality in imaging. An obvious one is the lack of ionizing-radiation in MRI, as opposed to CT; what this means is that with MRI we can theoretically screen a patient as frequently as needed without inducing future oncological-risk due to additive effects of repeated ionizing-radiation dosing. An additional advantage of MRI is its multiparametric nature which provides potential for much greater intrinsic soft-tissue contrast capabilities, even without requiring IV-contrast administration; in comparison, CT essentially looks at one dimension of the object being images (radiodensity) and therefore without adding-on IV-contrast many soft-tissue lesions become much more difficult to delineate. Therefore, comparing non-contrast-MRI to non-contrast CT, MRI tends to have superior sensitivity and specificity relative to CT, especially in the general screening context. There are certain individual exceptions to this (in particular primary lung screening with CT, where CT would typically have better sensitivity/specificity profiles at this time). While generally a benign addition, adding on IV-contrast as part of imaging protocols is not entirely without risk; risk stems from potential immediate adverse-reactions/allergies to the contrast-agent, short-term potential toxic-effects, and long-term deposition of contrast-agents in tissues with still unknown consequences. Therefore, contrast-enhanced imaging is generally best reserved for diagnostic purposes when benefit outweighs risk and best avoided when possible in the general screening setting. Finally, avoiding the injection required with IV-contrast makes the Prenuvo scan that much less invasive and more comfortable.
In most cases, no. Of course, if it is an emergency, we will get you out of there to go to the toilet. But the high accuracy of our Prenuvo scan relies on us imaging the same tissue in your body in a number of different ways, while in the same position. If you need to take a break, once you return you will be in another position. If you think this might be a problem you should limit how much you drink to ensure you can last the duration of the scan.
Typically, a Prenuvo scan is not covered by extended insurance. Some customers have had success claiming part of the scan fee with their insurer, but this is not commonplace. We are working with insurers to educate them on the advantages of the Prenuvo scan but it is unlikely that there will be changes in the short term.
Not at this time. We are at the cutting edge of revolutionizing whole body screening. While preliminary studies are beginning to demonstrate clinical utility of whole body MRI, no public facility is conducting these examinations for general screening purposes. It might take years, unfortunately, for healthcare plans to cover preventative WB-MRI scans. Many of our members have been able to get full or partial reimbursement through their insurance/extended insurance providers. We recommend you check with your provider to confirm coverage.
Medical expenditures like the Prenuvo scan are typically tax-deductible. Please check with your tax advisor in the region you are located for the most up to date information.
Your deposit is 100% refundable or transferable up to three business days before your appointment. Your specific cancellation deadline details would be included in the email confirmation you will receive after scheduling. After that deadline, your deposit is no longer refundable or transferable.
Yes. Currently at Prenuvo, we only screen patients 18 years of age or older.
Affirm does not charge annual fees. For more information on related fees, please visit Affirm's website.
Any metal, or electronic device can interfere with the exam. Never bring any of the following into the examination room: coins, jewelry (please remove all piercings prior to your MRI), keys, cell phone, watch, hearing aids or other electronic/metal devices. A secure, private room to store your valuables is provided.
All Prenuvo scans are eligible for purchase using an FSA/HSA account.
We produce a detailed medical report for your physician that walks them through every system and organ in the body and identifies any abnormal findings we identify. This is produced in a format that they are familiar with.
You will receive web and mobile app access to your images as well as a patient-friendly interactive version of your Prenuvo scan findings, based on those described in your official radiologist report. This interactive section of your findings summary will include information on the different systems, organs, and many of the other conditions we can image, including recommendations that will help empower both you and your physician to make the best decisions regarding your health.
Our open bore MRI scanner permits much of your scan to be conducted with your head outside of the magnet, greatly easing claustrophobic feelings. Your doctor may prescribe you a sedative depending on your level of claustrophobia. Please arrange the sedative prior to your MRI exam and ensure you have arranged a driver or alternate mode of transportation for getting to, and from, your Prenuvo appointment. Alternatively, we can prescribe you a sedative and fill a prescription for you.
Please use an alternate payment method to complete your purchase.
You will be provided with a squeeze ball at the start of the scan. You can squeeze this at any time to alert the technologist performing your scan.
For help with payment information, or if you haven’t received your Affirm email confirmation, please contact the Affirm team via their website.
We are happy to do our best to accommodate you. Please give us a call at +1-833-773-6886 to discuss your needs.
We have a strict 3 business day cancellation policy. Provided that you contact us more than three business days before your scheduled scan, we are happy to accommodate changes or refund your deposit.
No, you will not be charged. If you’ve already made a payment to Affirm and are owed a refund this may take up to 5-10 business days to appear on your bank account or credit card statement. If you have any questions about the refund process, please reach out to the Affirm team.
Rates from 0–36% APR. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. Options depend on your purchase amount, and a down payment may be required. CA residents: Loans by Affirm Loan Services, LLC are made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license. For licenses and disclosures, see affirm.com/licenses. For example, a $800 purchase could be split into 12 monthly payments of $72.21 at 15% APR or 4 interest free payments of $200 every 2 weeks.
In the US, health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) are programs that allow you to set aside money (before taxes) for eligible healthcare expenses.
CT and MRI both produce advanced cross-sectional anatomical images; they also generally involve similar appearing large machines with a patient lying on a table inside a sort of tube. However, the two techniques involve fundamentally different physics. A key-difference is that CT involves significant ionizing-radiation, while MRI involves none. From a basic cross-sectional imaging perspective, there is a good degree of overlap in the diagnostic utility that can be provided by the respective modalities, although there are contexts where one would be preferred over another or when the two would be complementary. However, CT essentially looks at a "single dimension" of the object being imaged to distinguish substructures, while MRI is a multiparametric technique capable of looking at many different dimensions of tissue and therefore enabling more potential diagnostic detail (or "contrasts") when needed in a given situation. Nevertheless, even though MRI involves no ionizing-radiation and theoretically more diagnostically versatile, CT typically precedes MRI in the conventional diagnostic imaging pathway for practical reasons (i.e., CT's more availability and relative ease-of-operating compared to MRI); afterall, CT can answer most routine diagnostic imaging questions just as well as MRI, and likely more efficiently the conventional MRI.
MRI on the other hand, is typically reserved as a second-step to provide needed answers to remaining questions that CT can't completely answer on its own. Although CT has the relative disadvantage of radiation, in most clinical diagnostic settings this is not a meaningful concern because the benefit of a diagnosis outweighs the long term risk from the associated radiation-dose; however, the same is not true in the screening setting where the additive risk of repeated-radiation dosing from serial screening exams becomes much more relevant. MRI's lack of radiation makes it a uniquely attractive imaging modality for whole-body screening.
While involving completely different physics, ultrasound and MRI share a unique property amongst the standard medical imaging modalities in that neither involves ionizing radiation, which is an advantage particularly in the screening setting. Ultrasound involves a handled probe which emits sound waves into the body, which are then reflected back to the probe and can generate an image of the underlying tissues based on the timing of the reflected sound waves received. For many common focal clinical concerns, ultrasound is usually a first-line attempt to evaluate the concern due to its wide-availability and relative inexpensiveness compared to MRI; MRI is not conventionally utilized first due to practical reasons, but theoretically would overlap a lot of the diagnostic utility of ultrasound.
In some contexts the two modalities could also serve complimentary roles. Ultrasound is very useful for doing "targeted" imaging evaluations of soft-tissue organs and fluid-filled structures, as opposed to MRI (or CT for that matter) which are "scanning" modalities of entire cross-sections of the body. Ultrasound also cannot image through bone, becomes severely limited when there is gas present in the trajectory of the ultrasound beam, and can also become difficult to use to assess deeper structures in larger habitus patients due to weakening to the sound waves over longer soft-tissue or fat-tissue distances. Overall, ultrasound suffers from a relatively poor field of vision (kind of like shining a light under the water, where the depth of field can be a bit murky) which means that while useful to evaluate structures in a more targeted fashion, it would be limited in performing whole body screening. MRI does not significantly suffer these same limitations, and therefore while both are radiation-free modalities, WB-MRI is a better candidate for effective whole body screening.
First, a major difference is the lack of ionizing radiation with the Prenuvo scan (or MRI in general for that matter), as opposed to PET/CT which involves significant radiation-dosing. Therefore while in cases of already diagnosed cancer PET-CT is likely the preferred standard for initial systemic staging and treatment-response monitoring in most clinical settings, it is not a reasonable candidate modality for general screening because over the long-term, additive exposure to ionizing-radiation actually increases the risk of inducing cancer down the line. PET-CT is a very useful cancer-imaging technique because it reflects metabolic activity, which in cancer is characteristically increased relative to background normal tissue, and can do so over large anatomic coverage with cross-sectional anatomic-precision. With Prenuvo’s MRI technique, we take advantage of a functional-equivalent of PET, however capitalizing on a different physiologic principle. Just like cancer tends to be hypermetabolic relative to background normal tissue, it also tends to have relatively more cellular-density which results in relative "diffusion restriction of water molecules" which is actually very well-imaged via MRI but technically difficult to perform well over the whole-body. To this end, we have fine-tuned performance of whole-body Diffusion-Weighted-Imaging (or WB-DWI), which is a fundamental component of our Prenuvo multiparametric WB-MRI screening protocol and therefore further strengthens the degree of sensitivity and specificity our WB-MRI screening approach. In the end, to some degree WB-MRI may eventually have a degree of overlapping roles and complimentary/different contextual strengths for cancer-imaging, depending on the clinical situation. However, in the specific context of general cancer screening, WB-MRI is a more viable option due to the lack of ionizing radiation involved compared to PET-CT.
Our patient’s privacy and confidentiality are very important to us. We comply with privacy regulations and legislation in the jurisdictions we operate.
A Prenuvo MRI is a noninvasive, injection-free, and radiation free procedure. The scanner is air-conditioned, well-lit, and you will always be in contact with an MRI technologist through a two-way intercom. During the scan, coils will be placed from your head to your legs. The MRI scanner produces thumping and humming noises as it is acquiring the images. We will offer you some headphones or earplugs to reduce the noise. You can also choose to listen to music to help pass the time or watch your favorite show (except if you’re at a partner clinic). The technologist who operates the scanner will be observing you from the adjacent room throughout the scan. It is important to remain still when images are being acquired.
We perform a comprehensive set of protocols that image the entire body. These include brain quantification, arterial assessment, fat quantification as well as dedicated cancer and spinal screening. Our custom tailored whole body MRI protocol is based on MRI tissue-contrasts based on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, Fat-suppressed and non-fat-suppressed, and DWI techniques, a combination of evidence-based and emerging technologies that offer the most comprehensive diagnostic imaging in a reasonable time frame.
Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines for specifically recommending WB-MRI screening in the general population. In most cases, the decision of if/when to start should be individualized based on patient-specific concerns and ideally through shared-decision-making with a primary healthcare provider. From a statistical perspective, cancer-risk generally increases with aging (as does the risk of most diseases); however, this risk can also vary individually based on other factors such as genetic/family-history, environmental exposures and other lifestyle factors. Additionally, a proactive-health approach could be of major interest to some individuals versus of less of a priority to others. Given the lack of ionizing-radiation and avoidance of IV-contrast, there are no real direct physiologic risks from undergoing WB-MRI screening. However, there could be other less-direct concerns stemming from how to handle potential "indeterminate-risk findings" or "false-positives"; to this end, as subspecialized radiologists in practicing WB-MRI screening we are not only very conscious of this delicate balance, taking into account the patients’ referring clinicians and healthcare system's perspective in our daily clinical practice, but also have the unique clinical experience and fine-tuned screening WB-MRI techniques to stand on. In the long run, longitudinal studies on WB-MRI screening will hopefully be able to provide the more specific evidence needed to more precisely recommend the most useful age to start and screening frequency for various different patient populations relative to individualized factors. Currently at Prenuvo, we only screen patients 18 years of age or older.
Please refer to the payment plan agreement for all of your payment schedule information.
You can find them here.
Your belongings are stored in a locker or secure changing room while you are in the MRI. Additionally, our changing rooms are located in areas of our clinics that are accessible only to Prenuvo staff and members.
Affirm currently accepts pre-authorized debits from your Canadian bank account or a debit card. Available payment methods may vary depending on the payment plan selected. Please note that prepaid cards are not accepted.
A Radiologist (physician specially trained in MRI and other radiology examinations, such as X-ray, CT and ultrasound). Our radiologists are fully licensed in the states they read in, and are or specially trained in whole body MRI screening.
We are using WB-MRI technique which includes coverage of the heart in the field-of-view, but we are not using dedicated targeted cardiac MRI techniques to do a comprehensive MRI evaluation of the heart in particular. One major reason is the heart as an organ that is in constant motion by necessity (it must beat!), therefore we will always have a prominent degree of motion blurring in the heart which will add further limitation. In cardiac MRI, this is often accounted for by doing "ekg-gating" to time imaging to the heart beat; however, this is not currently part of our technique. In contrast to dedicated cardiac imaging techniques, we are also not including dedicated sequences to specifically evaluate coronary arteries, specific cardiac focused MRI tissue-sequences and/or angulations, or MRI-techniques to evaluate cardiac-function.
We do not submit the report to any health or insurance system unless authorized by you.