Mumbai: World's largest 1.8-kg tumor removed from man's brain
A team of doctors from Mumbai removed a staggering 1.8-kg tumor from a man's brain, hailing from Uttar Pradesh. The tumor is the world's largest and was operated upon in the civic body-run BYL Nair hospital in Mumbai Central. 31-year-old Santlal Pal, a cloth vendor was admitted to the charity hospital after doctors in Varanasi and Allahabad refused to perform the risky procedure.
'Appeared as if two heads mounted on each other'
"It appeared as if there are two heads mounted on each other. Even the scalp vessels had become tortuous and dilated," said Dr Trimurti Nadkarni, professor and head of neurosurgery at the hospital, who led the 7-hour surgery on February 14. MRI, CT scan and other tests revealed that the tumor had invaded through the skull bone to both the sides of the midline.
Pal went completely blind, required 11 bottles of blood
Pal was admitted "with progressive swelling of scalp, heaviness, headaches and diminution of vision in both eyes since the last one year. On examination, he was found with a firm scalp swelling measuring 30x30x20 cms," said the authorities. The affected skull bone was also removed along with the tumor. "There was a heavy blood loss," said Nadkarni, adding that Pal required 11 bottles of blood.
'Feel like a large burden is off my head'
Pal was put on ventilator support for three days. The weight of the earlier largest brain tumor was 1.4-kg that was surgically removed in 2002. Interestingly, Dr Nadakarni was part of that team as well in KEM hospital. "I feel as if I am relieved of a large burden on my head," said Pal, recovering well in hospital and is now on regular diet.
