“Give a man health and a course to steer, and he’ll never stop to trouble about whether he’s happy or not.”

– George Bernard Shaw

 

PNA Spotlight: Dr. Paul A. Gardner

This month the PNA Spotlight focuses on Dr. Paul A. Gardner. 

Paul A. Gardner, MD, joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery in 2008 after completing his residency and fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his undergraduate studies at Florida State University, majoring in biochemistry, and received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Gardner completed a two-year fellowship in endoscopic endonasal pituitary and endoscopic and open skull base surgery. His research has focused on evaluating patient outcomes following these surgeries and more recently on genomic and molecular analysis of skull base tumors. Dr. Gardner has been the neurosurgical director of the Center for Cranial Base Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center since April of 2008 and, along with Carl Snyderman, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology, leads a renowned course on endoscopic endonasal surgery three times a year.

His answers are below:

PNA Medical Corner: Artificial intelligence and pituitary surgery

The PNA Medical Corner this month features an article co-authored by neurosurgeon Aaron Cohen-Gadol of Indiana University, a longtime member of the PNA. They conclude that A-I and machine learning will improve preoperative planning and surgical strategies in pituitary surgery, but points out challenges on multiple fronts.

Current status of artificial intelligence technologies in pituitary adenoma surgery: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose: Pituitary adenoma surgery is a complex procedure due to critical adjacent neurovascular structures, variations in size and extensions of the lesions, and potential hormonal imbalances. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has demonstrated considerable potential in assisting neurosurgeons in decision-making, optimizing surgical outcomes, and providing real-time feedback.

    Featured News and Updates

    News Articles October 2026

    Pituitary story: teen battles craniopharyngioma

    A story in the Yakima Herald spotlights the case of a high school student from Washington State who underwent surgery for a craniopharyngioma near his pituitary gland. Read more:

    https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/education/highland-student-overcomes-rare-tumor-to-return-to-schools-band/article_f94abec5-7492-4517-9edc-5739023e3982.amp.html

    Germ cell tumors masquerading as pituitary inflammation

    A new study from China looks at germ cell tumors in adults and concludes that they can often be mistaken for pituitary inflammation. Read more: https://bioengineer.org/rare-brain-germ-cell-tumors-in-adults-often-masquerade-as-pituitary-inflammation-study-finds/

    Pituitary story: 82-year-old undergoes pituitary neurosurgery

    A hospital in Srinagar, India, reports on a high-risk surgery on an 82-year-old female patient to remove a pituitary macroadenoma. Read more: https://kashmirconvener.com/82-year-old-woman-undergoes-high-risk-pituitary-tumour-surgery-at-paras-srinagar/

     

    Child in Ukraine receives donation of pituitary medicine

    The nonprofit Direct Relief  reports on the case of a 12-year-old boy in Ukraine with pituitary dwarfism who has received growth hormone medications, thanks to charitable donations. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has severely disrupted medical supplies in that country.  Read more: https://www.directrelief.org/2026/09/ukraine-war-children-growth-hormone-donations/

    Case study: Craniopharyngioma linked to spontaneous singing

    A story in Medical Daily.com looks at the case of a woman in Poland with a craniopharyngioma whose symptoms included a spontaneous desire to sing religious songs. The symptom subsided after surgical intervention, but then returned.

    https://www.medicaldaily.com/brain-lesions-spirituality-circuit-religious-singing-tumor-479227

    Research Articles

    Research Articles October 2026

    Pituitary Tumors

    Emerging insights into the pathophysiology of pituitary tumour microenvironment.

    Fuentes-Fayos AC, Gil-Duque I, De la Rosa-Herencia AS, Sarmento-Cabral A, Flores-Martínez Á, Cano DA, Martínez-Fuentes AJ, Luque RM.Endocr Relat Cancer. 2026 Aug 26:ERC-26-0262. doi: 10.1530/ERC-26-0262. Online ahead of print.

     

    Imaging

    Brain Tumor Classification from MRI Using Colormap-Based Vision Transformers on the BRISC2025 Dataset.

    Ahmed F.J Imaging Inform Med. 2026 Aug 28. doi: 10.1007/s10278-026-02221-6. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42665755

     

    Magnetic resonance elastography of brain tumors.

    Koyuncu N, Uca YO, Sack I.Z Med Phys. 2026 Aug 28:S0939-3889(26)00093-0. doi: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2026.08.001. Online ahead of print.

     

    Pituitary Surgery

    Endoscopic endonasal transcavernous surgery for knosp grade 3-4 growth hormone-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: surgical outcomes and predictors of biochemical remission.

    Tian L, Liu M, Luo M, Zhou C, Gu J, Zeng J, Shen Q, Tong Z, Jiang Y, Luo B, Lin J, Sheng Z, Peng Y.Neurosurg Rev. 2026 Aug 28;49(1):542. doi: 10.1007/s10143-026-04467-8.

     

    ERAS Protocol Elements and Neurosurgery-Specific Considerations: A Narrative Review.

    Domi R, Saxena S, Berger-Estilita J, Biasucci DG, Meco BC, Lilaj K, Huti G, Matot I, Rubulotta F, Camilleri Podesta AM.Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim. 2026 Aug 28;54(4):248-261. doi: 10.4274/TJAR.2026.2606.

     

    Refining the posterior compartment of the cavernous sinus: a detailed reappraisal of surgical anatomy and techniques for invasive pituitary adenoma resection.

    Xu Y, Uchida T, Burgos-Sosa E, Alvarez AS, Rinaldi M, Nakase T, Banu MA, Agostini L, Xiao L, Vigo V, Nisson PL, Menaker SA, Cohen-Gadol AA, Fernandez-Miranda JC.J Neurosurg. 2026 Aug 28:1-13. doi: 10.3171/2026.4.JNS252898. Online ahead of print.

    Editor’s note: Dr. Fernandez-Miranda is a member of the PNA.


    SurgAnt-ViVQA: learning to anticipate surgical events through GRU-driven temporal cross-attention.

    Dhake SC, Huang J, He R, Khan DZ, Mazomenos EB, Bano S, Marcus HJ, Stoyanov D, Clarkson MJ, Hoque MI.Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg. 2026 Aug 26. doi: 10.1007/s11548-026-03784-z. Online ahead of print.

     

    Probable Postsurgical Parsonage-Turner Syndrome Following Endoscopic Endonasal Pituitary Surgery: A Diagnostic Challenge Case Report: Illustrative Case.

    Javidialsaadi M, Obillo A, Germanwala A, Ghannad AS, Jani RH, Ng I, Prabhu VC, Patel CR, Germanwala AV.Case Rep Neurol Med. 2026 Aug 25;2026:1964813. doi: 10.1155/crnm/1964813. eCollection 2026.

     

    Extent of resection and craniopharyngioma recurrence: a volumetric analysis.

    Sarkar S, Vijayaraghavan S, Thakar S, Aryan S.J Neurooncol. 2026 Aug 29;179(2):65. doi: 10.1007/s11060-026-05770-6.

     

    Analysis of the factors affecting the quality of life in patients with pituitary adenomas before and after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

    Liang W, Xia X, Fan K, Yang T, Cheng J, Zhu X, Li Y, Wang J, Ma Y, Yang Y.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026 Aug 13;17:1796777. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1796777. eCollection 2026.

     

    Acromegaly

    Acromegaly Discovered After Head Trauma: Multivessel Coronary Disease and Postoperative Meningitis Complicating a Pituitary Macroadenoma.

    Rockwell S, Boley JS, Pulido N, Safa M, Chertman LS.Cureus. 2026 Jul 28;18(7):e113532. doi: 10.7759/cureus.113532. eCollection 2026 Jul.

     

    Acromegaly and colorectal cancer risk: emerging roles of the gut microbiota.

    Grifoni GFA, Favero V, Cozzi RC, Chiodini I.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026 Aug 13;17:1820034. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1820034. eCollection 2026.


    Delayed diagnosis of acromegaly when lower facial features were obscured by masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Sakaue TA, Mukai K, Kajimoto Y, Obata Y, Takahara M, Shimomura I.JCEM Case Rep. 2026 Aug 28;4(9):luag163. doi: 10.1210/jcemcr/luag163. eCollection 2026 Sep.PMID: 42666735 

     

    Hormonal Health

    Emerging peptide and neuroendocrine strategies for TRT-induced reproductive suppression and functional male hypogonadism: a narrative review.

    Cretu AM, Kamar AAM, Ciobica A, Puia D, Doroftei M, Doroftei B.Front Reprod Health. 2026 Aug 14;8:1914709. doi: 10.3389/frph.2026.1914709. eCollection 2026.

     

     

    The FDA has approved NGENLA (somatrogon-ghla)

    The FDA has approved NGENLA (somatrogon-ghla), a once-weekly, human growth hormone analog indicated for treatment of pediatric patients aged three years and older who have growth failure due to an inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone.

    See the Press Release here>

    Count on your Xeris CareConnection™ Team for unparalleled Cushing’s Support

    Cushing’s can be challenging, but there is support so patients can feel like themselves again. The main goal of treating Cushing’s is to get cortisol levels back to normal. This Pituitary Awareness Month, Xeris Pharmaceuticals® is highlighting the importance of one-on-one support for patients living with Cushing’s Syndrome and support for HCPs treating Cushing’s Syndrome.

    Sign up to get dedicated support:

    Patients: Sign up for support | Recorlev® (levoketoconazole)

    HCP’s: Connect with Xeris support | RECORLEV® (levoketoconazole)

    Have more questions? Call for more support at 1-844-444-RCLV (7258)

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