Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Neurosurgery >
  • ... >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Pituitary >
  • Baylor Cox
Neurosurgery
About Us
Contact Us
Conditions and Treatments
Brain
Spine Neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Meet the Neurosurgery Experts
Patient Stories
Brain Tumors
Chiari Malformation
Cranial Nerve Disorders
Movement Disorders and Epilepsy
Neurovascular
Pituitary
Spine
Classes, Events, & News
Neurocirugia
Neurosurgery
About Us
Contact Us
Conditions and Treatments
Brain
Spine Neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Meet the Neurosurgery Experts
Patient Stories
Brain Tumors
Chiari Malformation
Cranial Nerve Disorders
Movement Disorders and Epilepsy
Neurovascular
Pituitary
Spine
Classes, Events, & News
Neurocirugia

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Baylor Cox: Angiofibroma

He wears a brown sports jersey with the number 82 on the front. He has shaggy medium length brown hair. He is holding a football and posing on one knee.

The Challenge

For 16-year-old Baylor Cox, Monday nights were special. Playing on the offensive and defensive line for his high school junior varsity football team was something he looked forward to every week. This honor roll student also participated in the marching band, and was an all-around active and healthy teenager. But when he suddenly started to lose weight, had difficulty breathing through his nose, and began to lose his sense of taste, that all started to change.

At first, Baylor’s parents Angela and Barry thought it was the hot Oklahoma heat causing the weight loss. They also assumed Baylor’s breathing issues were caused by allergies. Luckily, Baylor caused his own visit to the hospital.


"I was able to go back to school right away and do all the things I usually do." — Baylor


During a fundraising mission for the local children’s hospital, Baylor was out collecting money when he accidently fell and struck his face on the ground, causing a severe nosebleed that wouldn’t stop.

Baylor’s mother rushed him the doctors, but an examination showed no signs of trauma to his nose. Eventually the bleeding was controlled and Baylor’s doctor referred him to an ear, nose and throat specialist. Almost immediately, the doctor diagnosed Baylor with an angiofibroma (a invasive, noncancerous tumor composed of blood vessels).

The tumor was protruding into his nasal cavity, causing breathing difficulties and loss of the sense of smell. If it wasn’t removed, the tumor could push farther into the nasal cavity and skull base and cause severe damage and increased symptoms.

Schedule an Appointment or Ask a Question

The Path to UPMC

Neurosurgeons in Baylor’s hometown were apprehensive about removing the tumor due to its location and size, and could not ensure a successful surgery. Discouraged, Angela and Barry began doing their own research. They turned to the Internet and read about the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA) that was pioneered by UPMC surgeons. Feeling encouraged, they sent Baylor’s medical records overnight, and the next day got the call they were anticipating.

“The doctor called and said, ‘We can treat your son,’ and explained all about the EEA procedure,” said Angela. “From then on, I knew we were going to the right place. The doctors were never more than an e-mail away.”

The Solution

UPMC neurosurgeon Paul Gardner and otolaryngologist Carl Snyderman removed the apple-sized tumor through Baylor’s nose. The surgery left Baylor with no visible scars and little or no trauma to the nerves and tissue surrounding the area of the tumor.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better team,” says Angela. “ All the nurses and doctors were amazing and the care and concern they showed for Baylor was incredible. I am truly amazed.”

The Results

Shorty after surgery, Baylor and his family returned home to Oklahoma. Although he opted not to return to football, Baylor was still happy to return to a normal life.

“I was able to go back to school right way and do all the things I usually do,” says Baylor. “I couldn’t believe that almost a month ago I had brain surgery, and now I’m sitting here thinking about what to do tonight. That’s incredible.”


Our patient stories profile a number of patients who have had minimally invasive brain surgery at UPMC. Although everyone's care experience is unique, we hope that sharing these stories will help other prospective patients and their families better understand these procedures and their potential benefits.

Baylor's treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.

Read More Pituitary Stories

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login