In a rare surgery, doctors have removed a cancerous tumour as large as 15 centimetres from the kidney of a 51-year-old patient through a robotic procedure. According to doctors, the case is unique due to the massive size of the cancerous tumour and the fact that it was operated as a robotic procedure with minimal blood loss and pain. The average size of a tumour removed through robotics is said to range from four to five cm maximum. According to doctors, published medical literature evinces that a large renal tumour would range from 10 to 12 cm.
Dr Jagdeesh Kulkarni and Dr Mangesh Patil performed the surgery from Asian Robotic Surgery Institute at Asian Heart Institute (AHI). “Robotically the tumour removed in every day practice is four to five cm. But in this case the size of the renal tumour was approximately 15 cm and was removed completely by robotic surgery through a keyhole size of three to four cm. The patient is doing well now,” said Dr Kulk-arni, onco-urologist, panel robotic consultant, AHI.
The patient, Arun Kumar (name changed), who had a thyroid issue, consulted his family doctor when he suddenly started losing weight a few months ago.
“My doctor suggested to go through a thorough check-up and do an abdominal ultrasonography. I was shocked when the test revealed that I had a big cancerous tumour growing inside my kidney,” said Mr Kumar. The exact reason for formation of such a huge kidney tumour is not known, said doctors, adding that the possible reasons for such a tumour growth include genetic causes, smoking, alcohol, stones or complex cysts.