Artemis Hospital doctors remove 6 kg spinal tumor, claim it’s a record

New Delhi: The Artemis Hospital, a leading multi-specialty hospital in Gurgaon, has claimed that it has successfully removed a 6-kg tumor involving four vertebral segments. Arising from the D10 vertebral body, the tumor compressed the lungs, liver and chest wall of the patient. It is said to be the largest known and reported spinal tumor till date, as per the hospital.

Abdul Razzak, a young 17-year-old boy from Karvala, Iraq, was subject to a lot of humiliation in school and other public places when he went out with his family. His spine was tilting with the weight of the tumour and hampered not only his movement but, also made him a social outcast. He found it increasingly difficult to wear clothes of his size or even larger. Due to the size of the tumour he was incapacitated and could not even sit for too long. His family had approached various hospitals for the operation, but was refused treatment due to the complexity of the case. Even the doctors in Iraq refused to treat the patient, citing difficulty.

India appears to be fast becoming a favorite destination for medical tourism due to advanced yet affordable healthcare facilities for the patients from other Asian Countries and the Middle East.

As per Dr Hitesh Garg, Head Ortho Spine Surgery, Artemis Hospitals said-”It was a challenging case, specially looking at the size of tumour and its location. Patient’s spine was tilted to one side due to the tumor’s weight. During surgery we had to protect the nerves as well as lung and large blood vessels around it”

Further adding Dr Himanshu Tyagi Consultant Ortho spine surgery said, “Our major goal was to remove the tumor without damaging the surrounding tissues. We are glad that we could take out the entire tumour without any complication. The joy of watching the patient eat and walk next day cannot be explained in words.”

Post an 8-hour surgery at Artemis Hospital, the tumor has been removed successfully and the patient is doing perfectly well. He started walking the very next day after the surgery. At present, all the vital organs of the patient are in perfect condition. As per the hospital, he was discharged in good health recently.