Two-year-old defeats rare cancer after complex surgery

Doctors at KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, have successfully treated a two-year-old boy diagnosed with an advanced stage of neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer affecting nerve tissues.

Neuroblastoma, which affects approximately eight in one million children, typically originates in the adrenal glands or nerve tissues in the neck, chest or pelvis. In this case, the tumour had not only invaded the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC), the large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart, but also encased his right kidney.

“Initially, we opted for chemotherapy, but the tumour’s response was suboptimal. Surgery became inevitable, and we were concerned about the possibility of removing the kidney. However, with meticulous planning and teamwork, we successfully removed the tumour, preserved the kidney, and reconstructed the affected section of the IVC,” senior consultant surgical oncologist Madhu Devarasetty said.