Pituitary and Skull Base Tumor Patient Stories

Our stories below profile some of the patients who came to UPMC for brain surgery.

Contact Us the UPMC Department of Neurosurgery

412-647-3685 (within the U.S.)
01-877-320-8762 (international)
Fill out our online form.

Matthew Carls: Angiofibroma

A purple background with white text which reads "We couldn't ask for a better surgical team. They are godsends," by Jody, Matthew's family.

UPMC surgeons performed an extraordinary, nine-hour surgery that allowed this average 10-year-old to return to the everyday fun of being a kid.

Read Matthew Carls's story

Maria del Mar Minguez: Meningioma

When Spain native Maria del Mar Minguez was diagnosed with a complex brain condition, her family and friends rallied to send her to the experts at UPMC.

Read Maria del Mar Minguez's story

Nickkie Findlay: Tentorial Meningioma

A couple sits at a restaraunt. She wears a gold shirt, has glasses, and has shoulder length blonde hair. He wears a gray striped shirt and black blazer jacket. He has gray hair.

When this New Zealand native discovered she had a benign tumor along the surface of her brain, she turned to experts at UPMC to handle her care.

Read Nickkie Findlay's story

Eddie: Acoustic Neuroma

Eddie wears a striped white and tan shirt. He is tanned with short cropped brown hair.

Afraid that removing his brain tumor could lead to the loss of his hearing, this California resident chose to travel across the country for the expert Gamma Knife® care offered at UPMC.

Read Eddie Neurosurgery's story

Elizabeth: Craniopharyngioma

A purple background with white text that reads "Nothing is better than hearing 'You're doing fine'," by Elizabeth.

After two previous brain surgeries, this woman found UPMC's expert team—and long-awaited relief from an aggressive tumor growing at the base of her skull near the pituitary gland.

Read Elizabeth Neurosurgery's story

Sharon: Craniopharyngioma

A purple background with white text that reads "They made me feel like an individual, not just a number that was passing through," by Sharon.

Faced with the loss of her vision, this librarian found new hope with the EEA surgeons at UPMC, who gave her back the gift of sight.

Read Sharon Neurosurgery's story

Chester Radcliff: Odontoid Pannus

He has gray hair, wears glasses, and a red t-shirt. He is holding an infant. He is smiling.

This active grandfather, faced with chronic pain and rapid degeneration, found hope, health, and a renewed life with his children and grandchildren.

Read Chester Radcliff's story

Edith Smith: Odontoid Synovial Cyst

She has shoulder length gray hair. She is smiling brightly. She wears gold hoop earrings and silver glasses.

This busy registered nurse, faced with the threat of paralysis, found relief and a speedy recovery through EEA surgery at UPMC.

Read Edith Smith's story

Leslie Snyder: Pituitary Tumor

She wears a floral blouse with a black background. She has earrings. Her brown hair is in a bun.

When her blurry eyesight led to the discovery of a brain tumor, this busy manager was thankful to live in Pittsburgh and have easy access to the UPMC experts she knew she could trust.

Read Leslie Snyder's story

Hayley Spitznagel: Craniopharyngioma

Hayley has long blonde hair that goes beyond her shoulders. She is tan. She is smiling and wearing rainbow polka-dot pajamas.

Doctors first thought Haley Spitznagel was suffering from migraine headaches, but it turned out to be something much more serious.

Read Haley Spitznagel's story

Acharya Yashovijaysuri: Meningioma, Optic Nerve Compression

He smiles. He is bald. He wears glasses and has a gray wispy beard.

When a Jain Guru with 1 million followers was losing his sight—and traditional surgery failed—his followers sought sight-saving endonasal brain surgery at UPMC in Pittsburgh.

Read Acharya Yashovijaysuri's story