Whole-body MRI is highly sensitive, which makes it a powerful tool for early detection but also means it sometimes picks up findings that are ultimately harmless. These incidental findings can occasionally lead to extra scans, biopsies, or follow-ups that turn out unnecessary.

This creates two main challenges:

1. False positives: Findings such as liver and kidney cysts that are likely to never pose a real health threat but can lead to overtreatment if not carefully interpreted.
   
   

2. False negatives: Important findings that are unrecognized or inappropriately classified as benign.

Striking the right balance between false positives and false negatives is critical. A well-designed MRI program must be both sensitive and specific to detect true risks without causing unnecessary alarm. Not all MRI programs are built to navigate this balance with precision.

Biograph’s whole-body MRI program is designed to minimize unnecessary interventions without missing the issues that matter most. Every scan is reviewed by multiple fellowship-trained radiologists. A neuroradiologist interprets the brain and spine, a body radiologist evaluates the rest of the body, and a third radiologist conducts a separate quality control review. These expert interpretations are combined with advanced imaging protocols, family and personal history, genetic testing, lab and other test results. Our physician team then reviews each case to ensure findings are clearly explained and linked to a personalized action plan.

We go deeper into this approach in part two of this blog series, where we explain how Biograph’s MRI program was built to overcome these challenges and deliver meaningful, personalized prevention.