A team of doctors from India’s premier medical institute, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, successfully operated on a massive jaw tumour in a 14-year-old girl.
The jaw tumour was associated with hyperparathyroidism, a rare endocrine disorder.
Head of the Department of Surgery, Dr Sunil Chumber and Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr Ajoy Roychoudhury, operated on the tumour in a collaborative team effort that also included other medical professionals from both departments.
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition that causes the parathyroid gland to produce excess hormones, leading to an increase in calcium levels in the blood. This can cause a range of symptoms, including weakness, fatigue, and bone pain. In rare cases, it causes tumours to grow in the bones or soft tissues of the body.
The massive tumour in that young girl was causing massive difficulty in her regular life, such as speaking or eating, along with significant facial disfigurement.
These tumours are usually benign and slow-growing, but they can cause significant destruction of the jawbone, leading to pain, swelling, and disfigurement.
Dr Roychoudhury explained that the tumour is a rare type that is usually benign. “It was very risky in terms of bleeding and the risk of causing permanent damage to her ability to eat or speak, but we were able to manage well with accurate planning and a great team,” he said.
Dr Rijuta Aphale and Dr Gopal Puri emphasised the importance of early detection and treatment of hyperparathyroidism to avoid the development of such tumours and other related conditions. “It is important to get tested for high PTH levels when faced with large jaw tumours or other symptoms of hyperparathyroidism,” they said.
Dr Suraj Premanand stated, “This tumour is by far noted to be the largest jaw tumour associated with hyperparathyroidism to our knowledge.”
The tumour in the girl was diagnosed using modern radiology and nuclear medicine diagnostic methods led by Dr Devasenapathy and Dr Nishikant Damle, AIIMS said.
“She was operated on for parathyroid adenoma by a team of surgeons led by Prof Sunil Chumber. Her jaw tumour excision and reconstruction were performed by Prof Ajoy Roychoudhury and Prof Ongkila Bhutia,” the institute added.
“A teamwork at AIIMS between Endocrine Surgery and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Radio diagnosis, Nuclear medicine and Pathology and Anesthesiology departments helped the patient regain a normal life,” it further added.