I have had MGUS for a couple of years and my doctor has now recommended a whole body MRI, but our local hospitals do not have a protocol for doing one. The doctor is saying since I can't get the whole body here, I should just get a spine / pelvis MRI.
I have been reading that the spine/pelvis MRI is not as effective at finding many lesions, however, and would like to have the whole body scan even if I have to go somewhere else to get it.
My question: how can I find out where a whole body MRI is offered?
Forums
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
I had to call around all the major hospitals and radiology clinics in Colorado looking for a facility that did whole body MRIs. Except for one whole body MRI machine that is used for research, Colorado simply doesn't have any. So, my doc and I opted for a PET/CT in my situation.
In any case, I think you just need to call around. Alternatively, you could let folks on this site know which state you live in and ask others on the forum if they have found any whole body MRI machines in their area. But note that a PET/CT is pretty darn good at evaluating an entire person's body for lesions, even though some recent studies have given an edge to whole-body MRIs in detecting multiple myeloma related lesions. See:
Dr. P Kapoor, "To PET or not to PET," (Beacon forum posting, Jul 24, 2014)
for a good overview on the imaging modalities.
I've never quite understood why pelvic / spinal MRIs are used to diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma patients, unless the patient happens to present with back pain or an xray shows that there are lesions in that specific area of the body. Seems to me like you could indeed completely miss lesions that might instead pop up elsewhere in one's skeleton.
In any case, I think you just need to call around. Alternatively, you could let folks on this site know which state you live in and ask others on the forum if they have found any whole body MRI machines in their area. But note that a PET/CT is pretty darn good at evaluating an entire person's body for lesions, even though some recent studies have given an edge to whole-body MRIs in detecting multiple myeloma related lesions. See:
Dr. P Kapoor, "To PET or not to PET," (Beacon forum posting, Jul 24, 2014)
for a good overview on the imaging modalities.
I've never quite understood why pelvic / spinal MRIs are used to diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma patients, unless the patient happens to present with back pain or an xray shows that there are lesions in that specific area of the body. Seems to me like you could indeed completely miss lesions that might instead pop up elsewhere in one's skeleton.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
My husband has been treated for Multiple Myeloma at the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has had many whole-body MRI's. They do show lesions that might not appear on a pelvic / spinal MRI.
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suearl - Name: Earl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 79
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City also does whole-body MRIs.
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JimNY
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
I have had many whole body MRIs at Mayo Rochester as I am a nonsecretor.
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WLB - Name: Wayne B
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct. 2000 Non-Secretory
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
I have had a whole body MRI at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City.
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jerry
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
Thanks for all the help!
In posting the question, I should have mentioned that I am in central Virginia, but I realize I will likely have to travel.
If anyone has had a whole body MRI in Virginia or any of the surrounding states, I'd love to know where.
In posting the question, I should have mentioned that I am in central Virginia, but I realize I will likely have to travel.
If anyone has had a whole body MRI in Virginia or any of the surrounding states, I'd love to know where.
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
I had a whole body MRI at my nearest major regional hospital (in Australia). Very worthwhile for me to confirm the extent of damage from multiple myeloma. I think your haematologist or oncologist would know the locations of the nearest MRI options.
Lesley Rae
Lesley Rae
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Lesley Rae
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
When my doctor recommended a whole body MRI, I never dreamed finding somewhere that offers that protocol would be so difficult! I have been calling hospitals all over Virginia and have found none. Since it seems to be a popular topic in the medical literature lately, I am frustrated to find lots of references to full body MRI and its uses, but no guidance as to where to go for that. My doctor has not been helpful – he just said since it is not available at our local hospital, I could just get a spine-pelvis.
Does anyone have any information about a facility in Virginia or any of the surrounding states that actually does whole body MRIs?
Does anyone have any information about a facility in Virginia or any of the surrounding states that actually does whole body MRIs?
Re: Whole-body MRI - where can I get it done?
Have you tried the Virginia Hospital Center (previously known as Arlington Hospital)? EJ has had full body x-rays and full body PET/CT's there. They seem to have a fairly advanced imaging department.
Lyn
Lyn
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Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
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