Cleveland Clinic

An otherwise active, healthy 45-year-old man traveled for a second opinion about his presumed diagnosis of stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma after developing end-stage liver failure from radioembolizations performed elsewhere. He reached out seeking a liver transplant after being told elsewhere that he was not a candidate for the surgery. More about the case: https://cle.clinic/4lKkZVw

Brittany Pope spent years searching for answers before doctors found a rare pituitary tumor causing a large ovarian mass. In her late 20s, after a miscarriage, Brittany was told she had large ovarian cysts and should consider a hysterectomy. But as a mom to a young son, she wasn’t ready to give up the chance to grow her family. Over several years, she saw multiple specialists. Despite extensive testing, no one could explain why the mass kept growing, the largest eventually reaching 22 cm or about the size of a soccer ball, and affecting her daily life. Looking for another opinion, Brittany came to us for care. “Their questions were more detailed, the testing was more comprehensive, and for the first time in years, I had hope,” she recalls. Through a multidisciplinary approach, including endocrinologist Dr. Laleh Razavi, Brittany’s care team uncovered the root cause: a rare pituitary tumor affecting her hormones. “It is extremely rare for a pituitary tumor to cause the kind of hormonal imbalances that fuel an ovarian mass,” Dr. Razavi recalls. “In fact, none of the doctors involved in her case had seen it before. Once we saw the results, we realized this had to be the explanation.” In October 2025, neurosurgeon Dr. Varun Kshettry, removed the tumor. Within one month, Brittany’s body began to respond. Her ovarian mass shrank to 7 cm, and she began having regular menstrual cycles for the first time in nearly a decade. The outcome validated the decision not to remove her uterus, as the hormonal imbalance caused by the tumor would likely have manifested elsewhere in her body. “My care team looked at me as a whole person,” Brittany says. “They gave me back options I thought I had lost and allowed me to enjoy life again.” Now 36, Brittany is focused on her health. She is exercising again, fitting into her old clothes, and, for the first time in years, living without constant pain or exhaustion. By sharing her story, she hopes others facing complex health challenges will keep asking questions and advocating for answers. “I’m incredibly thankful for the team,” she says. “They didn’t just restore my health. They gave me a second chance.” More: https://cle.clinic/4dBkASb

Do you take melatonin or another medication to help you sleep? An expert discusses how taking melatonin may benefit more than just your sleep: https://cle.clinic/3Z9UOyi

Repeated head trauma has been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, but doctors still lack reliable tools to diagnose the condition in living patients. Researchers say finding and validating biomarkers for CTE is a critical next step toward earlier detection, better treatment and improved understanding of the disease. Learn more about the research priorities shaping the future of CTE care: https://cle.clinic/4ulKyjT

Cranberry juice is often recommended for UTI prevention, but it's not a cure-all. Learn when it might help, when it won't and what to try instead: https://cle.clinic/4eJJoHZ

Intermittent fasting continues to grow in popularity. And it may be more than a fad, with more data rolling in that may show it helps with weight management, blood pressure and more. A registered dietitian provides tips for trying or practicing intermittent fasting safely: https://cle.clinic/3Z3u1D1

A 51-year-old male general surgeon presented for evaluation after an outside institution found a large mass invading his lumbar spine and left common iliac vein. More about the case: https://cle.clinic/46Pj4Ib

Pull-ups are one of the most effective upper-body exercises, but they can be challenging to master. They target multiple muscle groups at once, including your back, shoulders and arms, helping build strength and improve posture. If you cannot do one yet, there are simple ways to build up to it safely and effectively. Learn how to start and progress with proper form: https://cle.clinic/4cw0KY1

Ebola virus disease is rare, but it can cause severe illness and spread quickly without proper precautions. Early symptoms often look like the flu, including fever, fatigue and muscle pain. As the illness progresses, it can lead to serious complications that require immediate medical care. Learn more about symptoms, transmission and prevention: https://cle.clinic/4ukclAW

After enduring two open-heart surgeries and surviving two strokes, 8-year-old Geno continues to persevere. “Even after going through so much, his defaults are still joy and curiosity,” says Geno's mom, Adrienne Mueller. Before Geno was born, an ultrasound showed he had complete heart block and hydrops fetalis, a serious condition that causes abnormal fluid buildup in multiple areas of the fetus’s body, leading to severe swelling. After he was born, Geno required a pacemaker at 3 months old and would later undergo two open-heart surgeries to address mitral valve dysfunction, which were performed by pediatric and congenital heart surgeon Dr. Hani Najm. Geno's complex heart condition also put him at a higher risk of stroke, something seen more often in children who have congenital heart conditions. Because of this, he had two strokes before turning 8. His second one, occurring at age 7, required a thrombectomy to remove the blood clot that caused it.  “Time is brain when it comes to stroke, and because Geno’s family acted so quickly, he got the appropriate care in time and has almost no deficits remaining,” says Geno’s pediatric stroke neurologist Dr. Kriti Bhayana. “If someone suddenly experiences balance problems, vision changes, facial drooping on one side, weakness in an arm or leg, or slurred speech – it’s important to call 911 right away. While we’re generally good at spotting these symptoms in adults, it’s crucial to remember that – even though strokes are rarer in children – they can happen, especially in kids with complex congenital heart conditions or a family history of clotting disorders, and among other signs, these signs apply to them, too,” says Dr. Bhayana. After overcoming so much medically, Geno, now in the second grade, still embraces a challenge and confidently says math is his favorite subject. He’ll continue to be closely monitored and remain on medications to keep his heart stable and minimize his risk of another stroke.  “Even though I’ve been through some tough things, I’ve just kept going. Facing and getting through hard times makes you that much stronger and braver,” says Geno. More: https://cle.clinic/4wCT5Ap