Years of symptoms. One diagnosis that finally explained them.
A large pituitary tumor was affecting Chris McNamee’s hormones, vision and energy. A coordinated team helped him get back to the life he had been missing.
Hormonal changes
Severe fatigue
Giant Lin, MD
When the symptoms didn’t add up.
Chris McNamee wanted the energy to keep up with his young nephews. Instead, in his early thirties, he found himself exhausted, losing weight and hair, sweating heavily and watching his once-sharp vision deteriorate.
For years, the symptoms did not point to one obvious answer. Thyroid testing led to medication and dosage changes, but Chris continued to feel worse. Eventually, a new round of bloodwork showed broader hormone abnormalities — a clue that the problem might be coming from the pituitary gland.
Severe fatigue · Vision changes · Weight loss · Hair loss · Heavy sweating · Hormonal changes
The diagnosis that connected everything.
An MRI revealed a noncancerous pituitary tumor about the size of a walnut. Its size and location helped explain why Chris’s symptoms had become so wide-ranging.
The tumor was pressing on his optic nerves and his vision was gradually worsening. Because of its size, surgery — rather than medication alone — became the best treatment option.
Pituitary tumors can affect hormone function, vision, energy and other aspects of health. Chris’s diagnosis required specialists who could look at the full picture together.
“The whole team was phenomenal. They just kept telling me, ‘Don’t worry, we’re going to take care of this.’”
— Chris McNamee
Two surgeons. One coordinated approach.
Yaron Moshel, MD, PhD, and Giant Lin, MD, performed Chris’s surgery together using a minimally invasive transnasal approach. Dr. Lin established the surgical corridor through the nostrils and sinuses, and the surgeons worked together through the skull base to reach the tumor.
Endoscopic technology and angled lenses provided views around critical anatomy as Dr. Moshel removed most of the mass and decompressed the optic nerves. The operation required precision around the carotid arteries bordering the tumor.
Access through the nose and sinuses, without a visible external incision.
Endoscopic visualization around the tumor and surrounding anatomy.
Careful decompression of the optic nerves while navigating the carotid arteries.
As his vision and energy returned, Chris could get back to what mattered most — spending time with his nephews and feeling like himself again.
Back to what matters most.
Within a couple of months, Chris felt almost back to normal. His hormone levels began to stabilize, and his vision and energy returned. Because the operation was performed through his nose, he had no visible surgical scar.
He continues to see his specialists for long-term follow-up. Most importantly, he is back to doing what he wanted to do all along: spending time with his nephews and being present for the everyday moments he had been missing.
After decompression of the optic nerves.
As he recovered and his hormones stabilized.
Long-term monitoring with his specialist team.
“Being able to take him to the beach, or chase him on his bike, or teach him the things I like to do — that feels really good. My life is so much better for having met Dr. Lin and Dr. Moshel.”
— Chris McNameeHave questions about a pituitary tumor diagnosis or your treatment options?
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