10-hour surgery in Hyderabad saves 36-year-old woman with rare chest tumour

Hyderabad: A massive (15×10 cm) tumour – bigger than an electronic tablet – was removed from the right chest of a 36-year-old woman from West Bengal, offering her a new lease on life.

The surgical team at Durgabai Deshmukh Renova Cancer Centre, Vidyanagar, here successfully performed the rare and complex surgery.

What is the case about?

The patient had been suffering from severe respiratory distress and chronic chest pain.

Following a series of diagnostic tests, she was diagnosed with ‘Right Hemithorax Fibromatosis’, a rare cancer. Due to the tumour’s size and its proximity to vital organs such as the heart and lungs, several corporate hospitals in West Bengal and Hyderabad deemed the surgery extremely high-risk. The estimated costs were prohibitively expensive.

The family eventually turned to Durgabai Deshmukh Renova Cancer Centre, Vidyanagar. After carefully evaluating the case, Dr U Azad Chandrasekhar, renowned Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director, accepted the challenge and initiated a comprehensive treatment plan.

Detailed diagnostics

Speaking about the achievement, Dr U Azadh Chandrashekar said, “This was an extremely complex and challenging case. In many such situations, doctors are often forced to remove the entire lung to save the patient’s life. However, considering the patient’s young age and long-term quality of life, we carefully planned a surgical strategy to remove only the tumour while preserving the lung.”

Surgery lasted 8 to 10 hours

He further explained that detailed diagnostic evaluations, including CECT, PET-CT Scan,and True-Cut Biopsy, were conducted to understand the tumour’s extent and position. Based on these findings, the surgical team performed the procedure using an advanced technique called VATS-Guided Excision.

The rare surgery lasted nearly 8 to 10 hours and was carried out with precise coordination by a team of specialists.

During the procedure, “We successfully removed the tumour without causing damage to vital organs such as the heart and lungs. She has recovered significantly and was discharged in good health within 10 days. Importantly, considering the patient’s financial situation, the hospital ensured that the treatment was provided at minimal cost without compromising on quality, offering the patient a new lease of life. He expressed his gratitude to the medical, nursing and paramedical teams whose coordinated efforts contributed to the success of the surgery.”

Dr U Azadh Chandrashekar further stated that “The centre remains committed to providing advanced, internationally benchmarked treatment for complex and rare cancers, making high-quality healthcare more accessible and affordable for all.”

The patient’s family expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr Azadh and the entire team for restoring their hope and confidence. They appreciated the professionalism, dedication and compassionate care extended throughout the treatment.

The successful procedure was supported by a multidisciplinary team supported by dedicated doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff, whose coordinated efforts ensured the success of this complex, high-risk procedure.