- For the extirpation, oncological surgery was required for the resection of the tumor and some segments of the lung median lobe, with the preservation of the other structures. He also participated in cardiothoracic surgery for reconstruction of the chest wall and plastic and reconstructive surgery to cover the area.
- The giant malignant tumor had dimensions of 25 by 28 centimeters and a weight of 13 kilos.
- It was classified as a chondrosarcoma, which is composed primarily of bone and cartilage.
The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) remains the foundation of health in our country. To date, it has just over 60 million beneficiaries, which represents almost half of the total population. His work is often criticized but it is also fair to recognize everything he does well. In this case, working together allowed remove a giant malignant tumor and thus save a patient’s life.
Description of the clinical case
The story took place in the High Specialty Medical Unit (UMAE), Specialty Hospital No. 14 of the National Medical Center (CMN) “Adolfo Ruíz Cortines”, of the IMSS in North Veracruz.
“The case of Luis Alberto was referred to us by HGZ No. 71, as it is a highly complex case. It was a chondrosarcoma originating in the rib cage and practically enveloping the entire right hemithorax, collapsing the lung and progressively compressing the pericardium and the contralateral lung, compromising the patient’s life in the short term,” said the doctor. Carlos Alberto Yoldi Aguirre, surgical oncologist.
Due to the tumor extension and the priority to have to reconstruct the chest wall, the case was taken in this third level unit. It required a multidisciplinary team, on the one hand, oncological surgery, for the resection of the tumor and of some segments of the pulmonary middle lobe, with the preservation of the other structures. He also participated in cardiothoracic surgery for reconstruction of the chest wall and plastic and reconstructive surgery to cover the area.
#CasoDeÉxitoIMSS doctors of the #UMAEHospital de Especialidades No. 14 of the CMN “Adolfo Ruíz Cortines”, of the #IMSS in Northern Veracruz, they removed a chondrosarcoma weighing approximately 13 kilograms.
>> https://t.co/s0WqHNOpzO pic.twitter.com/KF5KvqxRZw
— IMSS (@Your_IMSS) April 5, 2023
For his part, the plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Andrés Torres Zamudio, explained that after the resection by Surgical Oncology, the reconstruction was performed. For this, two muscles were used, the pectoralis major and the latissimus dorsi. The patient’s evolution was satisfactory, so he was discharged from the hospital.
Dimensions of the giant malignant tumor
It should be noted that the Giant malignant tumor had dimensions of 25 by 28 centimeters. In addition, since it is a chondrosarcoma it is composed mainly of bone and cartilage, to remove it it was necessary to remove four costal arches from the hemithorax and rebuild it with metal bars so that the thorax would not remain unstable.
Yoldi Aguirre explained that the patient spent two days in intensive care and then a week in hospital, which was expected after such an invasive procedure. However, the evolution was satisfactory, so at the time of his discharge he walked on his own two feet, with minimal discomfort and restoration of right lung function and decompression of the pericardium and left lung.
Finally, the surgical oncologist emphasized that in the event of any alarm or protuberance, one should go to his Family Medicine Unit to be referred to a specialist. Oncological management is much better if it is detected early, preventing tumors from having large volumes and involving other structures, organs or devices, which require partial or total removal.
The beneficiary patient, Luis Alberto “N”, commented that he detected the protuberance two years before, but he did not feel any discomfort and he left it until he began to feel a lot of pain and breathing problems, symptoms that made him unable to carry out his activities, as well who sought private medical attention. However, due to the dimensions of the giant malignant tumor They told him that it was not possible to remove it, and for this reason he went to the IMSS.
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