Surgeons from the Department of Thoracic Surgery under the Da Nang General Hospital have successfully removed a large mediastinal tumor that compressed the heart and almost completely collapsed the left lung of a young patient.

The 3.1kg tumour after removal

Six months ago, a 16-year-old patient, residing in Thanh Khe District, suffered chest pain and breathing difficulties. He only slept whilst sitting up because of difficulties sleeping on his back.

Due to the complicated developments of COVID-19 pandemic in the city, the patient just stayed at home without going to hospital. Then, he was rushed to the hospital after the chest pain and shortness of breath became more severe.

After a tumor had been found, the patient underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy at the Da Nang Cancer Hospital. However, the tumor size had yet to decrease, so he was transferred to the Department of Thoracic Surgery under the Da Nang General Hospital for surgery.

With the help of a CT scan, the doctors detected a large-sized tumour that had been growing from the mediastinum to the left thoracic cavity, compressing the heart to the right, and almost completely collapse the left lung.

The large tumor, measuring 15x30cm and weighing 3.1kg, firmly attached to the mediastinum, was removed by surgeons from the Department of Thoracic Surgery during a 5-hour operation that ended late on Wednesday.

The male patient can be intermittently awake, and breathe on his own following the surgery. The patient is now gradually recovering, and is expected to be discharged from the hospital in the next 5 days.

Dr. Than Trong Vu, Head of the Thoracic Surgery Department, said that the surgeons were very cautious about removing the tumour in order to avoid rupture.

Reporting by LE HUNG - Translating by M.D