Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is a non-invasive imaging diagnostic method that provides data on numerous organs and organ systems in a single imaging. Unlike other imaging tests, such as conventional radiograph and CT scans, MRI, including WB-MRI, does not use ionizing radiation, making it a safer option for long-term disease monitoring. WB-MRI is the subject of numerous medical studies, but certain guidelines for its use already do exist, for example in patients suffering from multiple myeloma, advanced prostate cancer, metastatic melanoma; it is also used in the monitoring of patients with cancer predisposition syndromes and in rheumatology. There are studies on the potential benefits of WB-MRI in the process of diagnosis and follow-up in other malignancies such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer and lymphoma. The use of WB-MRI in screening for cancer in the asymptomatic general population is still a topic of discussion and so far there are no indications for its use in this population. Existing guidelines define straightforward WB-MRI imaging protocols, which can be carried out within 30 to 45 minutes. It is important to emphasize that there are also certain limitations and pitfalls in the recording and interpretation of WB-MRI findings. The limitation in the presentation of lesions of less than 5 mm and the possibility of giving false positives and false negatives are just some of the pitfalls. Additional research should be carried out in order to clearly and unambiguously define the indications for the use of this imaging method.