Tiny Patient, Giant Tumor: Doctors Save Toddler's Life

A remarkable surgical feat was achieved by neurosurgeons and ENT specialists at PGIMER, Chandigarh, who successfully removed a 7cm giant skull base tumor from a two-year-old child. This challenging operation, performed endoscopically through the nose, marks a first for such a complex tumor in a patient of this age. The child, from Sonipat, Haryana, had presented with concerning symptoms including an eye protrusion and a nasal mass.

Diagnostic imaging revealed an extensive anterior skull base tumor encroaching on the nose, sinuses, brain, and orbit. Biopsy confirmed it as a meningioma, an exceptionally rare diagnosis in children. Faced with the extreme risks associated with operating on such a young child, the surgical team opted for an endoscopic approach to minimize invasiveness while aiming for complete tumor removal.

Utilizing expanded endonasal endoscopy with specialized instruments and navigation, the surgeons meticulously excised the vascular tumor entirely via the nasal passage, negating the need for open surgery. The skull base defect was then repaired in a multi-layered closure. The nine-hour procedure concluded with an MRI confirming total excision, and the patient has shown significant improvement.