A 55-year-old nurse at a central government hospital in Delhi has been given a new lease of life after doctors at a city hospital removed a 14.5kg cancerous tumour from her abdomen in a complex 10-hour surgery.
Kuldeep Kaur had been suffering from severe breathlessness and difficulty walking for nearly four months as the rapidly growing tumour occupied a significant portion of her abdominal cavity. According to the hospital, the tumour's size and complexity had made treatment difficult.
A series of investigations revealed a giant abdominal tumour measuring around 30x30cm. Doctors said the growth had expanded deep within the abdomen and was pressing against surrounding organs.
A multidisciplinary team led by Dr Archit Pandit, director of surgical oncology at Fortis Escorts Hospital, carried out an open surgical procedure, or laparotomy, to remove the tumour. Surgeons found that the tumour had completely encased the patient's left kidney, making its removal necessary. The team also removed the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes after detecting a large fibroid.
Doctors said the tumour was closely associated with major blood vessels and vital abdominal structures, and the surgery involved carefully separating the mass from surrounding organs. “The tumour had not responded to chemotherapy,” Dr Pandit said, describing the case as a rare and complex oncological challenge due to the tumour's size and involvement with multiple organs. The patient was discharged in stable condition a week later.
