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The Maria Menounos case: a 3.9 cm pancreatic tumor that a full-body MRI found after a normal CT scan

Vilab editorial team4 min read

Doctor talking with a patient next to an MRI scanner

The essentials

  • Maria Menounos, a US television personality, said a full-body MRI showed a 3.9 cm mass in the pancreas, after a CT scan and blood and stool tests came back normal.[1]
  • A biopsy confirmed a stage 2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, a rare type that is less aggressive than ductal adenocarcinoma. It was removed surgically in February 2023 and, per the report, needed only yearly scans for five years afterward.[1]
  • It was a case with symptoms, not screening of a healthy person: the scan was used to find the cause of persistent pain.[1]
  • It is an individual case: it illustrates a possibility, it does not show that full-body MRI reduces mortality, which no study has measured in people with no symptoms.[2]

The case, according to the press

This case was documented by TODAY.com in May 2023, based on the public account of Maria Menounos.[1] These are the facts it reports:

  • The symptom: persistent pain in the upper left abdomen that, according to the report, doctors kept dismissing.[1]
  • The first tests: a CT scan and blood and stool tests came back "unremarkable".[1]
  • The finding: a full-body MRI showed a 3.9 cm mass in the pancreas. A second MRI confirmed it and a biopsy established the diagnosis in January 2023.[1]
  • The diagnosis: a stage 2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. According to TODAY, it is rare and less aggressive than ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer, and the prognosis is good because it was caught early.[1]
  • The treatment: in February 2023 the tumor was removed along with the tail of the pancreas, the entire spleen, 17 lymph nodes and a uterine fibroid. No further treatment was needed, only yearly scans for five years; recovery is described as very painful.[1]

The report does not say the person is "cured": it speaks of a good prognosis and yearly scans for monitoring.[1]

Why this case is useful

  • It showed what other tests did not. A normal CT scan and normal lab tests did not rule out the tumor; the MRI made it visible. It is an example that a normal result in one method does not close the question when the symptom persists.[1]
  • It changed the treatment. The tumor was operated on at 3.9 cm, with a good prognosis according to the report.[1]

What this case does not prove

  • There were symptoms. The scan was done to investigate pain, not as screening of a healthy person; the American College of Radiology does not recommend whole-body screening in people with no symptoms, risk factors or family history.[3]
  • It is a single case. In people with no symptoms, studies show that most findings are not cancer: about 1.57% had a confirmed cancer in a meta-analysis of 10 studies and 9,024 people.[4]
  • Company testimonials are something else. Some companies that sell these scans publish patient stories on their own sites; that is promotional material, not independent evidence.

What this case teaches in practice

If you have a symptom that persists and the first tests come back normal, it is worth going back to your doctor and asking what the next step is, which may be a different imaging study. It is a medical decision, not something a person should settle alone with a whole-body scan. For the picture of what studies show in people with no symptoms, read What does a full-body MRI find in people with no symptoms?.

At Vilab

On the imaging page you can compare MRI and ultrasound and request a quote on WhatsApp. Duration, preparation and final scope are set by the doctor for your case.

Frequently asked questions

Did the full-body MRI save Maria Menounos's life?

The TODAY report says the tumor was caught early, removed and the prognosis is good, but there is no way to know what would have happened without the scan.[1]

Does a normal CT scan rule out a tumor?

Not always. In this case the CT scan and lab tests were normal and an MRI later showed the mass.[1] Every test has limits; the choice depends on the symptom and is made by the doctor.

Should I get a full-body MRI because of this case?

A single case is not enough to decide. Talk to your doctor, especially if you have symptoms that remain unexplained; in people with no symptoms or risk factors, the American College of Radiology does not recommend whole-body screening.[3]

References

  1. Hohman M. Maria Menounos reveals pancreatic cancer diagnosis, surgery. TODAY.com. Last updated May 4, 2023. Open the source
  2. Maplethorpe E, Low G, Kolber MR. Whole-body MRI for cancer screening: many findings, little benefit. Tools for Practice no. 410. College of Family Physicians of Canada. Open the source
  3. American College of Radiology. ACR statement on screening total body MRI. April 17, 2023. Open the source
  4. da Fonseca JM, Trennepohl T, Pinheiro LG, et al. Whole-body MRI for opportunistic cancer detection in asymptomatic individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Radiol. 2026;36(3):1813-1823. Open the source

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