Brittany Pope has rare pituitary tumour removed, ending hormone imbalance
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 2
Brittany Pope has rare pituitary tumour removed, ending hormone imbalance
5 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 2
Cleveland Clinic doctors found the functional gonadotropic adenoma after years of symptoms; October surgery through her nostrils quickly normalised hormones and eased abdominal pain.
Her estradiol fell from 11,378 pg/mL before surgery to 41 within a week, and a 22-centimetre ovarian mass later shrank to normal size.
Pope, 36, had previously been urged to consider hysterectomy after a miscarriage, irregular periods and ovarian cysts; doctors now say she may be healthy enough to try for pregnancy later this year.
Her ovarian cysts were caused by a brain tumor. How often are women misdiagnosed?
Could an AI have solved this woman's seven-year medical mystery in minutes?
Successful Transsphenoidal Surgery Resolves 22cm Ovarian Cyst and Normalizes Estradiol from 11,378 to 41 pg/mL in Rare Pituitary Tumor Case
Overview
Brittany Pope suffered from a rare pituitary tumor that secreted hormones causing severe ovarian overstimulation, leading to a massive 22 cm ovarian cyst and extremely high estradiol levels. For seven years, she was misdiagnosed with PCOS, and critical warning signs were missed, delaying proper treatment. In October 2025, she underwent minimally invasive transsphenoidal surgery that successfully removed the tumor, rapidly normalizing her hormone levels and causing the cysts to disappear. This avoided unnecessary removal of her reproductive organs, preserving her fertility. As of May 2026, Brittany's recovery is progressing well, with stable hormones, no cysts, and preserved fertility, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis and targeted surgery.