3kg Tumor Mimics Heart Condition in Girl

Lung and thoracic cancers are increasing in India, with many patients diagnosed at advanced stages. Recently, an 11-year-old girl's persistent exhaustion led doctors to discover a 3kg tumor. This massive growth compressed her lungs, making her heart appear to be on the right side of her chest, a condition known as dextrocardia.

The tumor also obstructed her inferior vena cava, causing liver congestion. Dr. Mahesh D. Patel, a thoracic surgeon at Zydus Cancer Hospital, performed a challenging surgery. He utilized a clamshell incision to gain access and meticulously removed the 23cm lipoblastoma, a rare benign tumor of immature fat tissue. Following the surgery, the girl's lungs reinflated, and her heart returned to its normal position. She was discharged within a week and has since recovered fully.

In another complex case, Dr. Patel treated an 11-year-old boy with a 22cm mediastinal germ-cell tumor. After chemotherapy, the tumor was resected using a similar clamshell incision. Dr. Patel is also recognized for his pioneering work in robotic thoracic surgery, including the successful removal of a rare mediastinal paraganglioma in an 80-year-old patient from Africa, performing one of only five such robotic surgeries globally.