Broadcaster Hector Ó hEochagáin underwent brain surgery in July to remove a small pituitary tumour after monitoring the condition for 15 years. Medics in Galway operated on the presenter because the growth was altering vital hormones required for daily bodily function.
Tumour Removal at Galway Hospital
The television presenter and podcaster explained on RTÉ Radio 1’s Brendan O’Connor show that doctors removed a TSH-secreting adenoma from his pituitary gland. Medics had tracked the growth for a decade and a half before deciding intervention was necessary because the adenoma was acting the maggot, doing certain things with the body.
The procedure involved surgeons drilling through a tiny channel via the nose to scoop the six-millimetre growth off the pituitary. Ó hEochagáin stated that the pituitary gland functions like a Fabergé egg, noting that it is tiny, he’s the size of a grape
while his growth was the size of a sweetcorn.
Ó hEochagáin undergoes first general anaesthetic for surgery
The condition affects approximately one in every two to three million people. Because of its rarity, Ó hEochagáin participated in a medical study in Cambridge, UK. For years prior to the operation, he managed the condition using regular injections. The surgery marked the first time the author and broadcaster had ever undergone a general anaesthetic or entered an operating theatre. He admitted that the prospect of a surgeon going up through the nose to drill toward the skull was frightening, but he ultimately placed his trust in the medical professionals.
Broadcaster shares pituitary diagnosis on podcast
Following the July procedure, Ó hEochagáin spent a couple of months recovering by doing nothing and enjoying the weather in Galway. He initially kept the diagnosis private, sharing the news only with his wife and family before discussing it publicly on The Tommy, Hector and Laurita podcast. The broadcaster received a high volume of messages from listeners whose family members had undergone similar pituitary surgeries. Reflecting on his outlook following the operation, Ó hEochagáin told Brendan O’Connor to surround oneself with good people, share stories, swap conversations, and spend less time on mobile phones.
Surgeons treat rare pituitary tumour in Galway
What specific type of tumour did Hector Ó hEochagáin have?
He had a TSH-secreting adenoma, which is a rare type of growth on the pituitary gland affecting roughly one in every two to three million people.
How long was the condition monitored before surgery?
Medical professionals monitored the pituitary growth for 15 years, managing it with injections before deciding to operate in July.
Where was the surgery performed?
The operation was performed by medical teams in Galway, where surgeons accessed the pituitary gland by drilling through a passage in the nose.
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