2024-03-14 18:37:17
Some illnesses can develop without showing warning symptoms. For an Arizona woman, a full-body MRI likely saved her life. Now, she strongly encourages others to consider this preventative approach to health.
MRI allows you to visualize body structures as well as any pathological abnormalities that may be found there.
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Arizona resident Mary Ann Waldron mightn’t have been better. Despite being over 70 years old, she felt perfectly well and led an active life. With a view to prevention, this dynamic retiree decided to undergo a full-body MRI – aware that many dangers can lurk without any apparent sign.
“Even though I’m asymptomatic, I wanted to know if I had early-stage cancer,” Waldron told Fox News Digital. The verdict was like a bolt from the blue. The scan revealed a major aneurysm in his pancreas. As luck would have it, this dilation of the vessels was detected in time.
Initially, the aneurysm is small, grows slowly and therefore often goes unnoticed. However, a ruptured aneurysm can prove fatal in a flash. A subsequent examination confirmed the presence of the aneurysm in Mary Ann Waldron.
What is meant by whole body MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high-resolution images of the entire body, from head to toe, providing an overview of overall health. It is above all a preventive approach, completely painless.
Areas examined include the brain mass, arthritis, heart (such as possible enlargement), entire vascular system, abdominal organs, and lymph nodes. This helps diagnose heart diseases, tumors, brain conditions, bone diseases, spinal injuries, cancers, multiple sclerosis, gallbladder disorders and even metastases. The complete exam lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, including patient positioning. Unlike x-rays or CT scans, MRI does not require any x-rays.
How much does it cost?
The cost of whole body MRI varies depending on the type of procedure, with or without the use of contrast agents. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), in 2013, an MRI cost between 450 and 1,600 francs. The Arista radiology network, based in Bern and Zurich, estimates the cost of a full-body MRI at around 920 francs.
In great shape
For Ms Waldron, following the diagnosis of the aneurysm, emergency surgery was carried out by a vascular surgeon. “The size and location of my aneurysm was exceptionally large and unusual,” says the patient. Fortunately, the operation went smoothly and successfully. Today, Waldron feels in great shape and can return to his usual daily activities.
“I now have to take blood thinners every day, which makes me prone to bruising, but other than that I’m fine,” she explains. She is once once more enjoying her favorite activities like golf, swimming and hiking without any restrictions. “This operation was really life-saving,” she confides today, relieved.
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