Medical experts say the companies are selling expensive, unproven technology that may cause extra worries and unnecessary treatment while driving up costs for the U.S. health system.consumer-driven medical scans
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. It’s a type of medical scan that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of organs, bones and other structures inside the body. Unlike many other types of scans, MRIs don't use radiation. “MRIs are great for what they’re typically used for,” said Dr. Ernest Hawk, a vice president at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “But now you’re moving them much earlier into an average risk population and that’s where you can run into these questions that haven’t been answered."Companies like Prenuvo say their scans can help identify more than 500 medical conditions that can go undetected at a typical doctor's visit.
The company says it doesn’t pay for endorsements but will sometimes “provide a complimentary scan for an unbiased review.”Many radiologists say the likelihood of finding a serious problem, such as a cancerous tumor or brain aneurysm, in someone with no symptoms is very low. Instead, scans are likely to flag growths that are usually harmless. Definitively ruling out a problem could require additional tests, appointments and even surgeries.
“You’ve gone through a scan and it didn’t find anything so you say 'Gee, I don’t need to do the other routine things my doctor recommends that have been proven to extend life,” said Hawk.The American College of Radiology does not recommend MRI screening in people without symptoms, stating that there is “no documented evidence” the technique is “cost-efficient or effective in prolonging life.”
“The evidence will evolve over time but patients don’t necessarily want to wait 30 years to be in a position to benefit from it,” said Prenuvo's Durand.The studies needed to show such a benefit would have to be very large and long, tracking a diverse population for years, according to experts.