Full Body MRI (Panel 1) Check Up Program

About this program

The full body MRI screening at Acibadem (Panel 1) is a radiation-free structural survey: a whole-body MRI on a motorised table, a diffusion MRI and an upper-abdominal ultrasound, reviewed with a physician at a JCI-accredited hospital in Istanbul.

The Full Body MRI (Panel 1) Check Up Program is a radiation-free structural survey for adults who want to know whether anything in the brain, spine, abdomen, pelvis or large joints deserves attention. It combines a whole-body MRI on a motorised table at 1.5 T with a diffusion-weighted MRI at 3.0 T — a sequence sensitive to areas of restricted water movement, which is how it highlights tissue that warrants a closer look — and an upper-abdominal ultrasound of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen.

A check-up physician reviews the radiologist’s report with you and explains what each finding means. Whole-body MRI is a screening survey: it can reveal clinically important findings, and it also finds small incidental changes that need no treatment. Acibadem’s approach is to interpret every finding in context and to recommend further investigation only when it is genuinely warranted.

What the full body MRI screening looks for

Every item has a purpose. This is what each part of the day is looking for — in the words we would use to explain it to you at the final review.

Specialist examinations

The check-up (internal medicine) examination opens and closes the day: history, physical examination and the final review of every result.

Imaging

Whole-body MRI on a motorised table surveys the brain, spine, abdomen, pelvis and large joints without radiation; a 3.0 T diffusion sequence is added to highlight areas of restricted diffusion that deserve a closer look. It is a structural survey, not a substitute for organ-specific screening such as mammography, colonoscopy or a low-dose chest CT. An upper-abdominal ultrasound surveys the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen for stones, cysts, fatty liver and masses.

Who should consider the full body MRI screening

• Adults who want a whole-body structural screen without radiation, for example with a family history of cancer.
• Patients who have had a check-up elsewhere and want imaging-based screening added.
• People with unexplained symptoms — back pain, joint pain, weight loss — who want a broad survey before targeted tests.

The physician who reviews your results advises how often the program should be repeated; for screening imaging the interval depends on the findings and your risk profile.

How it compares with the other programs

Panel 2 contains the two MRI examinations only; Panel 1 adds the upper-abdominal ultrasound, which sees gallstones and liver detail better than a screening MRI. Whole-body MRI is also part of the Premium and Executive (Full Body MRI) programs, where it is combined with laboratory work and specialist examinations.

Related programs: Full Body MRI (Panel 2) Check Up Program, Premium Women’s Check-Up Program — or browse all check-up packages and the Check-Up unit.

How long it takes

Plan for around two hours, most of it in the MRI scanners. A coordinator plans the sequence — laboratory first while you are fasting, then imaging and examinations — so that you move through the hospital without waiting, and stays reachable throughout the visit.

How to prepare

• MRI. Tell the team in advance about any implant, pacemaker, surgical clip, metal fragment or claustrophobia so the examination can be planned safely. Leave jewellery at the hotel.
• Records and medicines. Bring previous reports, imaging and a complete list of your medicines. Take your usual medication unless the team tells you otherwise when confirming the appointment.

Results, report and follow-up

The large majority of laboratory results are ready the same day and are reviewed with you by the check-up physician before you leave; a written report in English follows, together with digital copies of your images and reports.

A few items take longer — detailed radiology reports for MRI and CT usually follow within a few working days. They are sent to you in English, and if anything needs discussion the physician arranges a call or an online consultation.

If a result needs a closer look, the relevant specialist is in the same hospital: additional imaging, a biopsy or a consultation can usually be arranged within days, and you decide how to proceed with the full picture in hand. Nothing in a check-up replaces care for existing symptoms — if you have a specific complaint, tell the team so the right specialist sees you first.

Price and what is included

Pricing for the Full Body MRI (Panel 1) Check Up Program is confirmed as a written quote before you commit, in your preferred currency. The quote covers every examination, test and imaging study listed on this page, the physician review, the written report in English, hospital coordination and interpreter support.

Not included are travel and accommodation, tests the physician recommends in addition to the program, and any treatment that follows from a finding — each is quoted separately before it is performed.

Why have the full body MRI screening at Acibadem

Acibadem Healthcare Group runs JCI-accredited hospitals in Istanbul with their own laboratories, imaging centres and specialist departments under one roof — which is what makes a complete program possible in a single visit, and what makes follow-up simple when a finding needs one. International patients are supported by a dedicated team in 25 languages, from the written quote before travel to the report after it.

More questions about the full body MRI screening

Is contrast used?

No. Both MRI examinations are performed without contrast. If a finding needs characterising, a targeted contrast study may be recommended separately.

How long does it take?

About 60 to 75 minutes in the scanners in total, plus the ultrasound and the physician review — usually around two hours in the hospital.

Can I have an MRI with an implant or a pacemaker?

Many modern implants are MRI-compatible, but each must be checked. Send the details of any implant, pacemaker, clip or metal fragment before your visit so the radiology team can confirm safety.

This page describes the content of a preventive program and is not medical advice. Screening tests have limits: a normal result lowers, but does not remove, the possibility of disease, and some findings need further tests to clarify. Discuss your individual situation with a physician.