Yesterday (June 7), the National Burn Institute performed surgery to remove a nearly 4 kg tumor from a 10-year-old boy. This is a particularly special case due to the size of the tumor and its impact on motor functions. After nearly a month of consulting with specialized hospitals, the surgery was conducted as scheduled.
The boy, Mông Văn Hưng, from the Tày ethnic group in Định Hoá, Thái Nguyên, has had the tumor since he was over a month old, and it has grown to nearly 4 kg. Initially, it was only the size of a peanut but gradually increased over time. For the past 10 years, he has had to carry this oversized tumor, which occupies almost a quarter of his body weight. Due to financial difficulties, his family could not afford the surgery. The National Burn Institute decided to perform the surgery and provide treatment free of charge.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Lê Năm, Director of the National Burn Institute: “Based on initial diagnoses, this is a fibrous tumor. The surgery could take between 5 to 7 hours because it involves muscle, blood vessels, and nerves. The doctors were very concerned that if complications arose, it might be necessary to amputate part of the boy’s lower arm. Fortunately, when we began the surgery, it turned out to be a fatty tumor. Due to its size and location in the muscle, the doctors only proceeded with the removal of 2/3 of it.”
After more than an hour of surgery, 2/3 of the tumor was successfully removed. To ensure cosmetic appearance and to avoid the risk of necrosis in the skin surrounding the tumor if the entire mass were removed at once, the doctors decided to leave 1/3 of the tumor in place. Another surgery will be conducted in 10 days to remove the remaining portion.
As of now, Hưng’s health is progressing very well. Just a few hours after the surgery, he was able to move his arm normally, which is a result beyond the expectations of the medical team.
