Brain Surgery Removes Rare Pituitary Tumour For Hector Ó hEochagáin
Broadcaster Hector Ó hEochagáin underwent brain surgery in July to remove a small tumour from his pituitary gland after medics monitored the growth for 15 years. The television presenter and podcaster stated that the medical team in Galway decided to operate because the TSH-secreting adenoma was altering vital hormones needed for daily bodily functions.
The condition affects roughly one in every two to three million people, according to the broadcaster. Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Brendan O’Connor show, Ó hEochagáin explained that the pituitary gland dictates metabolism, bone health, heart rate, and blood composition. Doctors managed the condition with injections for years before recommending the operation, marking the first time the broadcaster underwent a general anaesthetic or entered an operating theatre.
Entering Through The Nose To Treat The Grape-Sized Gland
Medical staff performed the procedure by accessing the pituitary gland through the nose to reach the skull. Ó hEochagáin described the scale of the operation by comparing the pituitary gland to a grape, noting that the growth on the back of it measured the size of a sweetcorn.
Only his wife and family knew about the diagnosis and subsequent operation until Ó hEochagáin revealed the news publicly on The Tommy, Hector and Laurita podcast. Recovery required spending a couple of months resting in Galway following the July procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pituitary Gland Surgery
What symptoms does a TSH-secreting adenoma cause?
A TSH-secreting adenoma causes disruptions to hormone levels that regulate metabolism, heart rate, bones, and blood. Hector Ó hEochagáin noted that the condition affected hidden functions of the body and required years of management through injections before surgery became necessary.
How did doctors perform Hector Ó hEochagáin’s brain surgery?
Medics in Galway accessed the pituitary gland by going up through the nose to drill through to the skull. The procedure removed a growth the size of a sweetcorn from the back of the pituitary gland, which is roughly the size of a grape.
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