Bengaluru Doctors Save 28-Day-Old Baby's Arm in Rare Cancer Surgery
A multidisciplinary medical team at the HCG Cancer Centre in Bengaluru has successfully performed a rare, limb-preserving surgery on a 28-day-old infant girl to remove a large, aggressive soft-tissue cancer tumor from her right forearm. The complex operation saved the newborn's arm from amputation after several other hospitals had previously suggested that amputating the limb was the only available option.
The baby girl was born with a small swelling on her right forearm. This swelling rapidly expanded into a massive tumor measuring 11.3 centimeters by 9.8 centimeters, severely affecting her forearm and hand. When the family brought her to the HCG Cancer Centre, doctors discovered that the tumor had completely surrounded major blood vessels and nerves in her arm.
To tackle the aggressive cancer, a specialized medical team was assembled, including orthopaedic oncologists, anaesthetists, plastic surgeons, and interventional radiologists. The team began by conducting genomic testing, which revealed an NTRK gene fusion. This critical finding helped the doctors plan a highly targeted treatment approach.
The first phase of the treatment involved performing a super-selective embolisation, a procedure designed to reduce the blood supply going directly to the tumor. Following this step, the medical team embarked on a grueling seven- to eight-hour surgery to remove the tumor. The surgical team utilized advanced medical tools, including 3D-printed models, digital twin technology, and specialized micro-instruments.
Two days after the tumor was successfully removed, surgeons performed a microvascular free flap procedure. During this reconstructive surgery, they used tissue taken from the infant's own thigh to rebuild her forearm and successfully restore proper blood circulation to her hand.
The extensive medical treatment cost approximately Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh. As the infant's family struggled to cover the high expenses, the HCG Cancer Centre, alongside various charitable foundations, doctors, hospital staff, well-wishers, and members of the local community, collaborated to raise the required funds.
Following the successful surgeries, the child was placed on NTRK-targeted therapy. Nearly 18 months after the initial procedures, doctors confirmed that the child has shown no signs of cancer recurrence. She has fully retained her limb function and is currently growing normally.
