Provider and patient perceptions on the usage of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in oncology: a scoping review
TL;DR
Evidence of provider and patient perspectives towards WB-MRI is limited and of varying quality, and the development of validated measures examining WB-MRI beliefs and experience would enhance research and facilitate future data synthesis.
Abstract
Whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) is increasingly used for early diagnosis, cancer staging and treatment monitoring, but adoption remains sub-optimal. The aim of this scoping review was to map research on patient and provider perspectives of WB-MRI in oncology, and identify methodological limitations and evidence gaps. The review followed the JBI methodological framework and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Five electronic databases were searched from inception to 29th March 2025: Cochrane Library, PubMed, APA PsycINFO, APA Psych Articles, and Academic Search Complete. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two authors independently, using COVIDENCE software, with results summarized via narrative synthesis. Twenty-eight studies met eligibility criteria, covering four distinct populations: general population (n = 8), people with cancer pre-disposition syndromes (n = 7), or suspected or confirmed cancer (n = 10), and radiologists (n = 3). Few studies examined beliefs about WB-MRI. Limited evidence shows awareness of WB-MRI attributes, such as the absence of ionising radiation, predicts preferences among cancer patients. Research on radiologists shows low levels of WB-MRI adoption in the USA and UK, attributed to limited scanner availability and a lack of trained radiologists. Among patients, uptake is modest (60%) in both population cohort studies and those recommended for surveillance, but the role of scan beliefs in predicting uptake has not been explored. Undergoing WB-MRI, or being notified of incidental findings, does not appear to cause adverse psychological consequences, but cancer specific concerns were not always assessed and research not always adequately powered. Evidence of provider and patient perspectives towards WB-MRI is limited and of varying quality. The development of validated measures examining WB-MRI beliefs and experience would enhance research and facilitate future data synthesis. Clinical trial number Not applicable.