Visakhapatnam, Dec 3 (UNI) Doctors at KIMS Hospital, Seethammadhara, successfully performed a rare and advanced surgical procedure on an eight-year-old girl diagnosed with a pancreatic tumour, making her the youngest patient in India to undergo surgery for Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasm (SPEN).
The child was brought to the hospital with severe abdominal pain, and an Endoscopic Ultrasound conducted by Gastroenterology Chief Dr Achanta Chalapathi Rao revealed the rare pancreatic tumour. Although SPEN has a low chance of becoming cancerous, its potential risks and future complications prompted the team to opt for surgery.
Chief Consultant GI, Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Surgeon Dr Muralidhar Nambada led a three-hour laparoscopic central pancreatectomy— a keyhole surgery designed to remove the tumor while preserving maximum pancreatic tissue.
The surgery resulted in minimal blood loss, and the child recovered swiftly with no postoperative complications. She was discharged within five days and has since returned to school, performing well academically and in sports.
Dr Nambada said the successful procedure highlights the high level of expertise required to handle such rare tumours. “Though extremely uncommon, we have diagnosed and treated 12 similar cases in the last decade. Early detection and advanced surgical skill are vital,” he noted.
He added that KIMS Hospital’s capabilities ensure that patients in the Uttarandhra region no longer need to travel to major cities for such complex procedures. Doctors Ravi Chandra Reddy and Gopala Krishna were also part of the surgical team, a hospital statement said on Wednesday.
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