Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have saved the life of a 66-year-old man by successfully removing a kidney tumour of 5.018 kg. The tumour is said to be the world’s largest, and was removed after a five-and-a-half-hour surgery.
The surgery was performed on May 14 and the patient is said to be recovering well.
“The patient’s right kidney had bloated 35 times the normal size making it the world’s largest ever kidney tumour on record as per the medical literature. The previous record was removal of a 2.5kg (5.5lb) tumour by doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,” said M. D. Ray, consultant at Department of Surgical Oncology, AIIMS, at a press conference organised to announce the achievement.
The patient, a resident of Darbhanga who has been living in Delhi for last 25 years, was brought to the AIIMS with a huge mass in the right side of the abdomen with discomfort and heaviness.
There was no other medical complaint.
“The mass had been rapidly progressing for the last two and three months, and was fast spreading and pushing into the lungs. Surgery was the only option left before it spread to other parts of the body,” said Dr. Ray.
For the operation, a long incision of almost 25 cm from chest to abdomen was made, and the chest was cut open with part of the ribs being taken out to allow the surgeons to go in.
“The tumour was compressed to the inferior vena cava (IVC) which is the main vein of the body. The surrounding structure was stuck to the mass, so that had to be separated and another important gland - adrenal gland - was spared. That gland is important for fluid electrolyte balance and metabolism of food. Also, it produces the sex hormone,” Dr. Ray explained. Surgeons managed to remove the mass and the right lung lesion was resected. Chest and abdomen were closed separately and respiratory muscles were repaired.
“The patient was in the ICU for a day after which he was shifted to a general ward. He is doing well. He will be discharged by end of the week,” said doctors.
