Rare 14.5 kg cancerous abdominal tumour removed in 10-hour surgery at Delhi hospital

In a rare and complex surgical procedure, doctors at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Okhla, have successfully removed a massive 14.5 kg cancerous abdominal tumour from a 55-year-old woman, in what is being described as one of the largest reported cancerous abdominal tumour resections in India.

Kuldeep Kaur, a nurse by profession, had been experiencing severe breathlessness and difficulty walking for nearly four months as the rapidly growing tumour occupied a significant portion of her abdominal cavity. According to the hospital, the size and complexity of the tumour led several hospitals in Delhi to decline treatment before she approached Fortis Escorts for specialised care.

A series of diagnostic investigations, including PET-CT, CT scan and MRI, revealed a giant abdominal tumour measuring approximately 30 x 30 cm. Doctors said the condition was particularly rare, with such tumours accounting for less than one per cent of all abdominal tumours and representing a small subset of already uncommon sarcoma cases.

Given the tumour’s size and proximity to vital organs, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Archit Pandit, Director of Surgical Oncology, undertook a complex open surgery lasting nearly 10 hours. The procedure involved a laparotomy, requiring a large abdominal incision to access and remove the tumour safely.

“The surgery was not challenging merely because of the tumour’s extraordinary size; it was the patient’s only realistic chance of survival,” said Dr Pandit.

“The tumour had shown no response to chemotherapy, leaving surgery as the only effective treatment option. Successfully removing a tumour of this magnitude while protecting critical structures demanded meticulous planning and advanced surgical expertise.”

During the operation, surgeons found that the tumour had completely encased the patient’s left kidney, making its preservation impossible. As a result, the kidney was removed along with the tumour. Doctors also identified a large uterine fibroid and performed a hysterectomy, removing the uterus, both ovaries, and fallopian tubes during the same procedure.

Dr Kushal Bairoliya, Consultant, GI Surgical Oncology, said the operation required careful navigation around major blood vessels and surrounding organs. “Removing the tumour was only part of the challenge. The real test was preserving vital structures and ensuring the patient could recover safely after such an extensive surgery,” he said.

The surgical team successfully excised the entire tumour after carefully separating it from surrounding tissues and controlling its blood supply. The patient recovered steadily and was discharged in a stable condition within a week of the operation.

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Dr Vikram Aggarwal, Vice President and Head of Strategic Business Unit at Fortis Escorts, said the case demonstrated the importance of timely intervention and multidisciplinary expertise in managing rare cancers. “The successful outcome not only improved the patient’s prognosis and quality of life but also highlights the hospital’s capability to handle some of the most complex oncological cases through advanced surgical care,” he said.

Doctors described the procedure as a significant achievement in surgical oncology, highlighting advances in cancer surgery that make treatment possible even in exceptionally rare and high-risk cases.