Whole-body MRI: social media perspectives and opportunities for radiologist engagement.

Résumé

OBJECTIVE: Whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) has gained popularity as a direct-to-consumer, comprehensive screening exam. Although the American College of Radiology does not recommend WB-MRI for asymptomatic individuals due to concerns about overdiagnosis, public interest continues to grow. This study evaluates public opinions and sentiments toward WB-MRI by analyzing discussions on Reddit, a social media platform rich in health-related discourse.METHODS: Using the Reddit API, we collected posts containing the terms "whole body mri," "ezra mri," and "prenuvo mri." One reviewer screened posts for relevance, and two reviewers independently applied an a priori coding framework to classify user type, sentiment, and thematic content. Posts were evaluated for stance toward WB-MRI and whether the user reported undergoing WB-MRI screening. Descriptive statistics were calculated.RESULTS: Of 17,177 posts collected, 3077 relevant posts were written by 1932 unique users from 2013 to 2024. Posting peaked in August 2023, accounting for 38% of posts following a viral influencer endorsement. Most users were from the general public (89%); 5% were non-physician healthcare professionals, 3% were non radiologist physicians, 2% were radiologists, and 1% were researchers. Overall, 47% opposed WB-MRI, 25% favored it, 20% were neutral, and 7% expressed mixed views. Only 4% reported undergoing WB-MRI, with most describing positive experiences. Common themes included early detection and preventive health (11%), information exchange (10%), cost (9%), ethical and health equity concerns (7%), and advertising practices (7%).CONCLUSION: Reddit discussions demonstrate strong interest but substantial uncertainty regarding WB-MRI, highlighting opportunities for radiologists to engage online and support evidence-based public discussions about preventive imaging.