Our Technology & Innovation

Our innovative Whole Body MRI™ protocol was developed for clinical oncology and cancer staging and continues to be used in clinical practice. Rather than being developed specifically for health screening, it brings the principles and imaging standards of clinical multi-organ cancer assessment into proactive screening.

This clinical foundation informs every aspect of the scan, from anatomical coverage and spatial resolution to advanced diffusion imaging and specialist radiologist interpretation.

A 3 Tesla (3T) MRI system operates at twice the magnetic field strength of a conventional 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) scanner. The principal advantage is greater available signal, which can be used to support higher spatial resolution, optimise image acquisition and reveal fine anatomical detail.

Compared 1.5T, a higher field strength can also introduce technical challenges particularly in diffusion-weighted imaging, where susceptibility effects and geometric distortion can be more pronounced. 

The advantage of 3T therefore depends on how the technology is used. Our exclusive whole-body protocol developed by Dr Zane Sherif and Mr Ben Kennedy is able to harness the superior signal, and higher resolution available at 3T while addressing the challenges through optimised acquisition and in-line geometric distortion correction.

The result is not simply a 3T scan, but a whole body MRI protocol designed and optimised to harness the advantages of 3T, while overcoming its technical challenges to deliver exceptional image quality and greater diagnostic confidence.

Most MRI providers can produce high-quality anatomical images of organs and tissues, although coverage and detail can vary considerably between whole body MRI protocols.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) adds functional information about the microscopic movement of water within tissues. This is particularly valuable in oncology, where pathological processes can alter tissue cellularity and water diffusion.

Exclusive to Whole Body MRI™, our protocol incorporates true, geometrically corrected full-body Diffusion-Weighted Whole-Body Imaging with Background Body Signal Suppression (DWIBS).

Our innovative distortion correction aligns the diffusion-weighted and anatomical images, allowing areas of restricted diffusion to be precisely co-localised with the anatomy and giving the radiologist greater confidence in identifying and characterising findings.

Advanced technology alone does not make a comprehensive whole body MRI. Protocol design, anatomical coverage, imaging parameters, spatial resolution and scan time all matter.

Our innovative approach to whole body imaging was co-developed by Dr Zane Sherif and Mr Ben Kennedy and continues to be refined through clinical application, technical innovation and advances in imaging science.

Our exclusive protocol combines anatomical and functional imaging, with resolution down to approximately 4 mm in the body* (industry standard is 10+ mm) and even finer detail in areas such as the brain. To date, our whole-body MRI protocol exceeds the internationally recognised ONCO-RADS imaging acquisition standards. 

Uniquely, our whole-body MRI includes targeted modalities such as low-dose CT chest imaging to complement our whole-body MRI. 

Whole body MRI does not always mean full-body coverage. Abbreviated protocols may be used to reduce scan time or reflect limitations in available imaging techniques, sequences or acquisition capabilities. This can result in differences in anatomical coverage, spatial resolution and the amount of diagnostic information acquired.

At Whole Body MRI™, we define whole body imaging.  Our protocol provides head-to-toe comprehensive coverage, with higher spatial resolution and more tissue-weights for greater diagnostic confidence.

Who interprets your whole body MRI should be a central consideration when choosing where to have your scan. Technology and image quality are only part of the examination; the final result depends on the expertise of the radiologist reviewing thousands of images across multiple organs and body systems.

With Whole Body MRI™, you know who is interpreting your scan. Your whole-body MRI is reported by Dr Zane Sherif who is highly experienced in whole body MRI and multi-organ cancer imaging. 

Findings are reported in accordance with ONCO-RADS, introduced in 2021 to standardise whole body MRI acquisition and reporting. Findings are categorised from ONCO-RADS 1 (normal) to ONCO-RADS 5 (highly suspicious for malignancy), providing clear recommendations for appropriate follow-up. 

 No single imaging modality is optimal for every part of the body. Our screening packages therefore extend beyond whole body MRI, incorporating targeted imaging technologies where they provide complementary clinical information.

This includes:

• Next generation Low dose Spectral CT chest imaging for dedicated assessment of the lungs and coronary artery calcium score for assessment of lung health and cardiovascular risk.
• Research-grade high-resolution DEXA for Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density for more proactive health insights.
• Additional Targeted MRI and Ultrasound scans included our comprehensive Executive Package. 

See our packages page to learn more about scan inclusions, coverage and costs.