A 67-year-old Ethiopian woman underwent successful surgery in India to remove a rare 12 kg cancerous gastrointestinal stromal tumour, after months of severe pain and organ compression.
Doctors in Gurugram have successfully removed a massive 12-kg cancerous gastrointestinal tumour from a 67-year-old woman from Ethiopia in what specialists described as a highly complex and high-risk oncological surgery.
The patient had been suffering from severe abdominal pain, visible swelling and a persistent sensation of a hard, immobile mass that progressively interfered with her daily activities and appetite. Detailed medical investigations including endoscopy and advanced imaging scans, revealed an exceptionally rare giant gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a cancer known for its unpredictable behaviour and surgical challenges when detected at an advanced stage.
Given the worsening symptoms and the tumour’s pressure on surrounding organs, doctors determined that surgery offered the safest chance of recovery. A multidisciplinary team at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurugram) led by Dr Amit Javed, Principal Director and Head of GI, GI Oncology, Bariatric, Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery along with Dr Narola Yanger, Principal Consultant in Gastrointestinal Oncology undertook the procedure.
During surgery, the tumour was found to originate from the stomach and extensively involve nearby structures, including the left lobe of the liver and the spleen, while lying in close proximity to the pancreas and colon. Owing to its extraordinary size, surgeons were unable to clearly define its upper limits using a conventional abdominal approach and had to extend the operation to include a thoracotomy, significantly increasing its complexity and risk.
Despite these challenges, the tumour was successfully removed following meticulous pre-operative planning and precise surgical techniques. The patient made a smooth post-operative recovery and was discharged in stable condition nine days after the procedure.
Dr Amit Javed said that treatment for such giant tumours are often refused by hospitals due to the high risk of uncontrolled bleeding and peri-operative complications. “Tumours of such extraordinary size are extremely uncommon and present significant surgical challenges, as normal anatomical planes are distorted and the risk of severe bleeding or tumour rupture during surgery is high. We performed a thoracoabdominal surgery, which involved opening both the chest and the abdomen. The patient underwent a carefully planned surgery in which the tumour was removed, along with the stomach, spleen and part of the liver to ensure complete removal of the cancer,” he added.
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