A tense surgery to remove a 5kg tumor firmly attached to internal organs.

Doctors at Phuong Dong General Hospital have successfully performed surgery on a patient with a giant tumor – approximately 30x25cm in size and weighing 5kg.

A 46-year-old female patient, NTH, from Hanoi , was admitted to the hospital with persistent abdominal pain and rapid weight loss. Her abdomen was distended, resembling a nine-month pregnancy, making eating difficult and each meal a nightmare due to the persistent feeling of bloating and discomfort. Notably, this was not the first time the patient had faced this condition – four years prior, she had undergone surgery to remove a similar tumor weighing approximately 6 kg.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of Surgery, Phuong Dong General Hospital, the patient was diagnosed with recurrent abdominal liposarcoma, measuring a very large 30x25cm and weighing 5kg. This is one of the most dangerous and complex forms of soft tissue cancer in the retroperitoneal space of the abdomen, characterized by insidious development over a long period, easy recurrence, and often adhering tightly to vital organs and blood vessels.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan (standing first from the left). Photo: P.D.

The biggest challenge in this case stemmed from the complex adhesions resulting from a previous surgery. The tumor was tightly adhered to the right kidney and ureter, completely displacing the pancreas, duodenum, small intestine, and colon to the right; it was also very firmly attached to the posterior abdominal wall and inferior vena cava.

In addition, the densely proliferating vascular system and multiple tumor lobes extending deep into the retroperitoneal space required the surgical team to be extremely meticulous in order to completely remove the tumor while preserving the surrounding tissues and organs.

The surgery lasted 4 hours and 30 minutes, performed directly by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan and his team from the Department of Surgery, Phuong Dong General Hospital. Thanks to the smooth coordination, proactive control of blood vessels, and effective hemostasis, the entire tumor was completely removed.

This was not only a major surgery in terms of scale, but also a high-pressure battle against a disease with a very high risk of recurrence, directly involving many vital organs in the abdominal cavity. The success of the surgery once again affirms the capacity to handle complex and specialized surgical cases at Phuong Dong General Hospital.

The patient is now conscious, in stable condition, and is receiving intensive post-operative monitoring and care.

Liposarcoma is a type of soft tissue cancer that can develop silently over a long period without causing noticeable symptoms. Patients often only notice a gradual enlargement of the abdomen, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, feeling full quickly after eating, or mild shortness of breath – signs that are easily overlooked or mistaken for common digestive problems.

According to Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Anh Tuan, the abdominal cavity has a very large capacity for expansion, so it is not uncommon for tumors to grow to 10-20 kg before being detected. As the tumor grows, it not only takes up space but also compresses vital organs, leading to the risk of exhaustion, intestinal obstruction, kidney failure, or respiratory failure. Doctors advise people to have regular health checkups and proactively screen for any abnormal signs in the abdominal area to ensure early detection and timely treatment.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/ca-mo-nghet-tho-boc-tach-khoi-u-5kg-dinh-chat-noi-tang-455884.html