KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad treats rare case of neuroblastoma in 2-year-old

Hyderabad: A two-year-old boy successfully underwent a complex surgery after being diagnosed with an advanced stage of neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that affects only about eight in one million children.

Hailing from Lalaguda in Hyderabad, Rakshith was diagnosed with an aggressive form of neuroblastoma, a cancer that originates in immature nerve tissue and typically affects children under the age of five. In most cases, it begins in the adrenal glands (above the kidneys) but can also start in the nerve tissues of the neck, chest or pelvis.

In Rakshith’s case, the tumour involved the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) — a major vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart — and was also encasing his right kidney, making surgery highly complex.

Surgery became inevitable

His parents brought him to KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad, where a team led by Dr Madhu Devarasetty, senior consultant surgical oncologist, successfully performed a complex surgery and saved the child’s life.

“Initially, we tried chemotherapy, but the tumour showed suboptimal response. Surgery became inevitable. We were concerned that the kidney might need to be removed, but thanks to the collective expertise and efforts of our medical team, we managed to remove the tumour without affecting the kidney,” said Dr Madhu. We resected the part of the blood vessels, i.e., IVC and reconstructed it. The boy recovered swiftly and shifted to room next day.

Dr Devarasetty emphasised the importance of experience and skill in handling such delicate cases involving children.

“At KIMS, we are equipped with advanced facilities and a multi-disciplinary team of specialists, including critical care experts. This allows us to tackle even the most challenging paediatric oncology cases successfully. Our Paediatric Oncology department is well-prepared to face similar challenges in the future and provide excellent health care.”

Rakshith’s parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude, saying, “At such a tender age, our child faced an unimaginable ordeal. After going from hospital to hospital with no hope, KIMS was our last resort. Dr Madhu and his team performed a major surgery and gave our son back to us. We are eternally thankful to the doctors, nurses, staff and management at KIMS Hospital for their care and support. Words are not enough to express our gratitude.”