Celebrities are getting $2,000 MRI scans to learn about their health. Should you?

WASHINGTON (AP) — What if there was a way to peer into your body and spot early signs of cancer and other life-threatening ailments before they became serious? That’s the pitch from a new cluster of companies selling high-tech scans to healthy people interested in learning more about their wellness. These whole-body MRI scans aren’t cheap. Startup companies like Prenuvo charge between $1,000 to $2,500 for various scanning options, none of which are currently covered by insurance.

Proponents say consumer-driven medical scans are the next logical step in preventive medicine. The industry has received a big publicity push from celebrities and influencers like Kim Kardashian, who posted about her Prenuvo scan last year. But many medical experts say the companies are selling expensive, unproven technology that may cause extra worries and unnecessary treatment, while driving up costs for the U.

S. health system. Here’s what to know before considering a scan: What is an MRI? MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging.

It’s a type of medical scan that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of organs, bones and other structures inside the body. Unlike many other types of scans, MRIs don’t use radiation. Doctors will order an MRI to help diagnose cancer, brain injuries, damaged blood vessels and other medical conditions.

Full-body scans can take an hour or more, with patients lying motionless inside a cylindrical tube. Medical societies only recommend routine, full-b.