A team of doctors in KwaZulu-Natal has achieved a significant medical breakthrough after successfully removing a brain tumour without making any external incision.
The complex procedure, known as an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary tumour resection, was carried out by surgeons at Shelly Beach Hospital.
Neurosurgeon Yandisa Nxakama said the operation marks an important step forward for advanced healthcare services in the region.
During the surgery, doctors used a specialised camera system inserted through the patient’s nose to reach the base of the brain where the tumour was located.
Nxakama explained that the tumour developed from the pituitary gland, a small but vital gland in the brain responsible for producing hormones that regulate various body functions.
If left untreated, he said the tumour can continue to grow and compress the pituitary gland, potentially disrupting normal hormone production and affecting overall body functions.
Although the surgical technique itself is not new internationally, Nxakama said performing the procedure locally represents a milestone for the hospital.
He added that it demonstrates the facility’s ability to deliver advanced, modern surgical care.
Nxakama also raised concerns about limited access to the procedure in the public healthcare sector. For many years in KwaZulu-Natal, the surgery was only performed at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.
He noted that neurosurgery services offering the procedure have only recently been expanded to include Grey’s Hospital, providing additional treatment options for public sector patients.