The winners in life treat their body as if it were a magnificent spacecraft that gives them the finest transportation and endurance for their lives.
-Denis Waitley
PNA Spotlight: Dr. William Couldwell
This month the PNA Spotlight focuses on William Couldwell, MD, PhD, who serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah. He is also a member of the PNA’s Scientific Advisory Panel. He studied at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, majoring in physical chemistry and biology. Dr. Couldwell attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal. He did internship in surgery at the University of Southern California and completed a neurosurgical residency there in 1989. He served as a research fellow in neuroimmunology at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital and research fellow in the neurosurgical service in Lausanne, Switzerland. He returned to U-S-C as an assistant professor of neurological surgery in 1991, where he stayed for four years. Later he became professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at New York Medical College, as well as program director of neurosurgical residency in 1997. In 2001 he became professor and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah. Dr. Couldwell was kind enough to answer some questions from the PNA. His answers follow.
PNA Medical Corner: Fascia Lata in Reconstructive Neurosurgery
This month the PNA Medical Corner showcases an article co-authored by a member of the PNA, Dr. Varun Kshettry of the Cleveland Clinic. The study concludes that the use of fascia lata in challenging cases of skull base reconstruction is highly effective with few side effects for cases of craniopharyngioma, meningioma and more.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37081750/
Abstract
Background: Multiple methods exist for skull base reconstruction of defects created by expanded endonasal approaches. While the nasoseptal flap (NSF) has been well established as the workhorse of mucosal reconstruction in complex skull base defects in multi-layered closures, a variety of options exist for the inner layer of multilayer reconstruction, including fascia lata (FL).
Objective: To present our experience and outcomes in utilizing FL in multiple ways to reconstruct a wide variety of complex skull base defects
Featured News and Updates
News Articles December 2025
Pituitary story: Long road to diagnosis
A retired Methodist minister from Raleigh, North Carolina named Lib Campbell tells her pituitary story in an article on DailyAdvance.com. She struggled for many years before being diagnosed with a lesion on her pituitary. Read more: https://www.dailyadvance.com/opinion/editorial_columnists/lib-campbell-everyone-is-deserving-of-affordable-health-care-insurance/article_d8ba7dd4-0d19-5eff-80d6-97fa1b598855.html
Pituitary case study: Early signs of acromegaly
Cureus.com features a case study on a 35-year-old man who went to the emergency room for dizzy spells. He also suffered from night sweats, his face was changing progressively, he snored and stopped breathing while resting. Tests showed a pituitary tumor; doctors diagnosed him with acromegaly. Read more:
Pituitary story: Soccer teammates come to the aid of 12-year-old pituitary patient
An article in the Connaught Tribune follows the story of a young girls’ soccer team in Ireland that is raising money toward medical care for two of the young teammates. A 12-year-old girl named Aoife is battling a pituitary tumor, and her friend, 13-year-old Emma has been diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Read more: https://connachttribune.ie/football-community-unites-behind-young-team-mates-both-battling-serious-illness/
Study examines role of age, gender, and stress in pituitary lobe volume
A study featured in Nature.com looks at the way the posterior and anterior lobes of the pituitary change over time and show differences according to gender and stress level. Results show that older adults had a smaller anterior lobe and a larger posterior lobe. They also showed less stress. Women generally have a larger anterior lobe than men. Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-26558-0
Research explores autism in children whose mothers suffer thyroid imbalance in pregnancy
An article in Science Daily looks at an Israeli study that found that mothers who experience thyroid hormone imbalance in pregnancy and go untreated have a higher risk of bearing children with autism. They recommend thyroid checks in pregnancy, as the risk decreases when the thyroid issue is treated. Read more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251129053353.htm
Research Articles
Research Articles December 2025
Mapping the evolution of pediatric craniopharyngioma research: a bibliometric analysis.
Frome S, Dastagirzada Y, Kurland D, Wisoff J.Childs Nerv Syst. 2025 Nov 29;41(1):389. doi: 10.1007/s00381-025-07050-6.
The interdisciplinary management of craniopharyngioma – practice patterns, outcomes, and insights.
Haselmann J, Roohani S, Wasilewski D, Onken J, Capper D, Kaul D, Ehret F.BMC Cancer. 2025 Nov 28. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-14991-3. Online ahead of print.
Pituitary Surgery
Training in endoscopic endonasal surgery: EANS young neurosurgeons committee survey.
Zoli M, Aldea C, Bauer M, Belo D, Drosos E, Jadoon S, Kaprovoy S, Lepic M, Lippa L, Mohme M, Motov S, Spiriev T, Stastna D, Stengel FC, Raffa G.Neurosurg Rev. 2025 Nov 28;49(1):31. doi: 10.1007/s10143-025-03962-8.
Joustra GE, van Rhee NF, den Heijer MC, Korsten-Meijer AGW, Feijen RA, Halmos GB, Kuijlen JMA, Vermeulen KM.Head Neck. 2025 Nov 28. doi: 10.1002/hed.70103. Online ahead of print.’
Cushing’s Disease
Hypercoagulability in Cushing’s syndrome: past, present, future.
Akirov A, Fleseriu M.Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2025 Nov 28;70(special 1):e250062. doi: 10.20945/2359-4292-2025-0095.Review.
Editor’s note: Dr Fleseriu is a longtime member of the PNA.
Lyu X, Liu J, Zhang D, Zhang X, Zhu H, Chen S, Lu L, Pan H.BMC Endocr Disord. 2025 Nov 27;25(1):275. doi: 10.1186/s12902-025-02092-y.
Hypophysitis
Primary hypophysitis: Classification review.
Turin CG, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK.J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2025 Nov 29:nlaf135. doi: 10.1093/jnen/nlaf135. Online ahead of print.41317043
Miquel L, Testud B, Albarel F, Appay R, Graillon T, Cuny T, Dufour H, Ebbo M, Brue T, Jarrot PA, Schleinitz N, Castinetti F.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2025 Nov 27. doi: 10.1038/s41574-025-01200-1. Online ahead of print.
AI/ Machine Learning
Subba AB, Sunaniya AK, Mukherjee A.IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2025 Nov 27;PP. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2025.3638154. Online ahead of print.
Hormonal health
Differential role of anterior and posterior pituitary lobes in healthy aging and perceived stress.
Doucet GE, Davis M, Mertens AT, Picci G.Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 27;15(1):42409. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-26558-0.
Li G, Li M, Xie B, Chen J, Li S, Luo S, Mo C.World Neurosurg. 2025 Nov 28:124692. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2025.124692. Online ahead of print.
Large-scale comparison of two immunoassays for adrenocorticotropic hormone in human plasma.
Li Y, Louie JZ, Burgess TE, Bare LA, McPhaul MJ.Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-26501-3. Online ahead of print.
Leibnitz S, Christ-Crain M, Atila C.Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2025 Nov 28;70(special 1):e20250259. doi: 10.20945/2359-4292-2025-0259.Review.
Diagnostic/Research
EndoCompass Project: Research Roadmap for Reproductive and Developmental Endocrinology.
Cools M, Krausz C, Juul A, Macut D, Andersen MS, Andersson AM, Andoniadou CL, Ahmed SF, Bakker J, Bashamboo A, Behre HM, Bonomi M, Busch AS, De Roo C, Dessens A, Fakhar-I-Adil M, Fanelli F, Fisher AD, Flück C, Gambineri A, Giwercman A, Gravholt CH, Hannema S, Heindryckx B, Hiort O, Hornig NC, Howard S, Ibáñez L, Jensen MB, Jørgensen N, Livadas S, Lucas-Herald A, Mastorakos G, Meriggiola MC, Ong K, Palibrk MO, Pignatelli D, Pitteloud N, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Rey R, Robeva R, Pozza C, Schlatt S, Spaggiari G, Tack L, Tena-Sempere M, Tournaye H, T’Sjoen G, Van Mello N, Vena W, Yildiz BO, de Zegher F.Horm Res Paediatr. 2025 Nov 27:1-23. doi: 10.1159/000549203. Online ahead of print.
EndoCompass and Neuroendocrine Tumor Endocrinology.
Castano JP, Dattani MT, Grozinsky-Glasberg S, Karavitaki N, Pavel ME, Andoniadou C, Alexandraki K, Capatina C, Cerbone M, Ferone D, Gan HW, Hofland J, Hofland L, Ibanez-Costa A, Ilie MD, Isidori AM, Korbonits M, Kos-Kudła B, Maghnie M, Mantovani G, Marazuela M, Raverot G, Scarpa A, Schilbach K, Theodoropoulou M, van Santen HM, Zatelli MC.Horm Res Paediatr. 2025 Nov 27:1-16. doi: 10.1159/000549145. Online ahead of print.
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