Rare 6.6-Pound Tumor Removed From Liver Of 28-Week Pregnant Woman

The doctors at a hospital in India have successfully removed a 6.6-pound tumor from the liver of a 28-week pregnant woman, local media reports said Tuesday.

The surgery took place in the southern state of Telangana. The 24-year-old unidentified woman from the town of Jangaon was taken to a hospital after she complained of a lump and an ache in her stomach. Following tests, it was revealed she had a cancerous tumor in her liver.

According to local media, this case was believed to be the first-ever reported incident of primary choriocarcinoma of liver in pregnant women in the Indian population and probably in the world. The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) conducted the historic operation.

An interdisciplinary team was formed with doctors from the departments of surgical gastroenterology, gynecology and anesthesiology from NIMS and the Neonatology Department of Niloufer Hospital, The Siasat Daily reported.

“Since the tumor was massive in size and has progressed to the extent of there being a rupture during pregnancy/delivery, it was planned to have the surgery in her third trimester,” a doctor was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

Before the surgery, the doctors discussed the pros and cons with the patient and her family, informing them of the possible complications. Medications were given to the woman before the surgery to avoid severe bleeding or premature contractions.

The baby and the mother were safe following the surgery. The newborn was kept under observation and was said to be recovering in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

“Immediate postoperative scans and gynecological examination revealed that both the baby and mother were healthy and doing fine. The patient is having a satisfactory recovery and is fit for discharge,” Dr N Bheerappa, of the surgical gastroenterology department, was quoted as saying.

The operation was conducted free of cost under the Chief Minister Relief Fund.

In a similar case, doctors at a hospital in Telangana successfully removed a rare 11-pound tumor from the kidney of a 5-year-old girl in November. Doctors diagnosed her condition as "Wilm’s Tumor," a rare type of kidney cancer which causes a heavily bloated abdomen. When the child was brought to the hospital, her abdomen was fully bloated. Doctors said she was weak and needed immediate medical attention.