Rare 36cm tumour had spread across the abdomen, pushing several vital organs out of place.
Surgeons in Abu Dhabi have removed a rare cancerous tumour weighing 4.4kg and measuring 36cm from a 49-year-old patient in a six-hour operation that also involved removing his right kidney and several surrounding tissues.
The procedure, performed by a multidisciplinary team at NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, presented significant challenges because of the tumour’s unusual size and its proximity to major blood vessels and vital organs.
To ensure the complete removal of the cancerous growth with appropriate surgical margins, doctors removed the tumour along with the patient’s right kidney, adrenal gland, part of the diaphragm and right 12th rib.
Despite the complexity of the surgery and the risk of severe bleeding, the team completed the operation with minimal blood loss and without the need for a blood transfusion.
The medical team said this rare form of cancer affects approximately one in every two million people annually.
While tumours of this type usually develop in the chest, the growth in this case had extended into the patient’s abdominal cavity. Doctors described this as an exceptionally unusual presentation, with only a handful of similar cases documented worldwide over the past 30 years.
Measuring 36 by 17cm, the tumour extended from the diaphragm to the pelvis, occupying most of the right side of the abdomen.
Its considerable size had displaced several vital organs, including the liver, stomach, intestines and kidney, from their normal positions.
During the operation, surgeons carefully separated the mass from nearby organs and blood vessels, working around the risk of serious complications posed by its proximity to major abdominal structures.
Although blood supplies had been arranged in preparation for a possible emergency, the team successfully removed the tumour without requiring a transfusion.
Dr Hassan Elberm, Consultant General and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeon, said the main challenges were the tumour’s size, its extensive spread within the abdominal cavity and its closeness to vital organs and major blood vessels.
He said the surgical team had developed a detailed plan involving specialists from multiple disciplines to anticipate potential complications and manage them throughout the procedure.
