Rare tumour between heart and lungs in tribal girl successfully treated in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A 15-year-old girl from a tribal community in Khammam district underwent a complex surgery in Hyderabad; a rare tumour between her heart and lungs and a large hole in the heart were successfully operated upon.

The operation was conducted at Kondapur KIMS Hospital. The complex surgery was performed by Dr Nisarga, chief cardiothoracic surgeon, and Dr C Rohan Reddy, consultant minimal invasive onco-thoracic surgeon, at the hospital.

The KIMS doctors explained the diagnosis: “The girl, the daughter of daily wage labourers in Khammam district, was suffering from congenital heart problems, including a significant ASD (Atrial Septal Defect or a large hole), which went unnoticed due to her parents’ lack of awareness and literacy. When she began experiencing breathlessness, she was taken to local doctors, who referred her to KIMS Hospital.”

“Upon examination, she was found to have a mediastinal teratoma, a rare tumour in a complex location between the lungs and in front of the heart. It was also at KIMS that the previously undiagnosed ASD in the wall separating the chambers of her heart was detected. The hole in the heart could cause mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, leading to severe complications in circulation,” they said.

The operation procedure was complex as they were operating on two issues.

“We first performed a surgery to remove the teratoma with limited incisions. The tumour had already invaded the heart’s outer layer (pericardium) and partially adhered to the lungs. Teratomas, congenital in nature, often spread further into organs like the lungs over time. In this case, the tumour had extended to the left side of the chest cavity, pressing on critical nerves and blood vessels. Its complete removal required excising a small portion of the lungs. Fortunately, this did not affect lung function. The hole in the heart was allowing the mixing of pure and impure blood. ASD surgical closure was done after stopping the heart and connecting it to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine. Using the heart’s outer layer, we repaired the large ASD,” the doctors said.

With the support of paediatric critical care specialists and physiotherapists, the girl recovered swiftly and was discharged within five days after surgery.

What are teratomas?

Teratomas are also known as germ cell tumours. The present tumour had plenty of granular contents, including hair and cartilage material, with a thick shell-like membrane. Although generally localised, some may spread aggressively, making their removal challenging. These surgeries demand exceptional skill and advanced facilities.