RCR statement on elective MRI health screening

In a statement to MailOnline on the provision of elective MRI scans for otherwise healthy people with no symptoms of disease, RCR President Dr Katharine Halliday said: 

“MRI scans are one of the best tools we have to help diagnose disease. However, we only recommend body scanning to investigate symptoms of disease, and only under the direction of a doctor. If you have no symptoms, we don’t recommend trying to get an MRI scan without being referred by a doctor, as there is a chance of overdiagnosis and treatment of irregularities that turn out to be nothing to worry about. This can cause unnecessary anxiety and can even lead to unnecessary treatment.”
 
Clarifying how the scanners work, Dr Halliday said:

“MRI scanners use a powerful magnet and radio waves to create an image of the body that helps doctors diagnose disease and decide how to treat it. They don’t emit radiation to the patient.”
 
She added that people experiencing symptoms should seek advice. 

“If something in your body doesn’t feel right, speak to your doctor about your concerns. They will refer you for an MRI if it is necessary. If you don’t have symptoms, we don’t recommend an elective MRI. In the UK, doing more of these scans would increase pressure on the health service when we are already struggling to tackle a backlog of important diagnostic tests.”