A patient with metastatic thyroid cancer, with a large, widely invasive pelvic tumor, was successfully treated by a team of excellent doctors using a new intervention method, helping to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Medical news on December 19: Dangerous complications due to metastatic thyroid cancer
A patient with metastatic thyroid cancer, with a large, widely invasive pelvic tumor, was successfully treated by a team of excellent doctors using a new intervention method, helping to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Successful treatment of complications due to thyroid cancer
Ms. HM, 45 years old, living in Quang Binh, has had to live with pelvic pain for 7 years. Initially, she was diagnosed with a bone tumor, but the tumor had grown too large and invasive due to being ignored for a long time. Other hospitals concluded that radical surgery was not possible, and the risk of complications could make the condition worse.
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| The combined method of embolization of blood vessels supplying the tumor and local destruction intervention using microwave ablation has successfully treated complications caused by thyroid cancer. |
She did not have a clear treatment plan and the constant pain made it difficult for her to move around and do daily activities. She decided to go to Vinmec Times City Hospital, where doctors re-examined her entire medical history and discovered that the tumor was not a simple bone tumor, but a metastasis from follicular thyroid cancer.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Hang, Head of the Pathology Department, Vinmec Times City Hospital, the tumor has complex morphological characteristics, is not easily recognized as malignant, and requires high level of expertise and sensitivity in analyzing the specimen. After reviewing previous and current test results, the doctors confirmed that this was a case of follicular thyroid cancer with pelvic metastasis.
The tumor is up to 10 cm in diameter, invading surrounding structures, making conventional surgery impossible. In particular, this tumor has many branches of blood vessels that nourish it, easily causing bleeding or hematoma during intervention, affecting the muscles and motor nerves of the lower limbs.
To treat the tumor, Vinmec doctors decided to apply a method combining embolization of blood vessels supplying the tumor and local destruction using microwave ablation.
Dr. Le Thi My, Director of the Thyroid Disease Center, said that this method is minimally invasive, helps reduce symptoms and supports effective treatment without surgery. We perform regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia so that we can monitor and check the patient's mobility during the intervention.
After two interventions, the tumor was reduced by 85%, and the patient was able to walk, sit and lie down comfortably without the pain as before. Ms. HM shared, I am very lucky that Vinmec doctors tried every way to treat me. After two interventions, I feel much better and have complete trust in the doctors.
After the tumor has reduced in size, the patient will continue to be monitored and re-evaluated after 6 months to consider the possibility of radical tumor surgery and 3D printing of the pelvic bone.
At the same time, patients will undergo molecular testing to look for thyroid cancer gene mutations, helping to develop a further treatment plan, including targeted therapy and systemic immunotherapy.
From November 2024, Vinmec will launch the "Color of Hope" campaign to raise public awareness about early detection and effective cancer treatment. Within the framework of the campaign, Vinmec will organize free examinations and consultations for patients with suspected cancer, helping to detect the disease early and provide timely treatment.
Abuse of painkillers, risk of gastric and duodenal perforation
An 85-year-old woman in Hanoi was hospitalized with generalized peritonitis due to a perforated gastric ulcer. She was brought to the emergency room late, with a series of underlying diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory, bone and joint diseases, and herniated disc, which were life-threatening.
However, the old lady was lucky to escape death thanks to the successful emergency surgery by doctors from the Department of Digestive Surgery, E Hospital. This case is not only a professional challenge but also a warning lesson about the importance of taking care of the health of the elderly.
Through medical history, the old woman suffered from chronic lumbar spine pain and had bought medicine to treat it herself. However, the medicine contained painkillers that caused side effects on the stomach and duodenum, leading to perforated ulcers.
Furthermore, because the patient was old and weak and had many underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, etc., the symptoms of gastric and duodenal perforation lasted for 4 days. Although the condition did not improve, the old woman continued to use painkillers. Only when severe septic shock and abdominal distension appeared did the patient go to the hospital.
Doctors urgently examined and performed the necessary paraclinical tests. The abdominal CT scan results showed: peritonitis due to perforation of the hollow organ in the anterior part of the duodenum - antrum. Recognizing that this was a dangerous case with a high risk of death due to abdominal infection, the doctors conducted an urgent consultation with the following departments: emergency, gastroenterology, anesthesia and resuscitation, and proposed an emergency surgery plan to suture the perforation.
Dr. Nguyen Khac Diep, Department of Digestive Surgery, said that deciding to operate on an 85-year-old woman was a big challenge. She also had many other underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and osteoporosis, making the choice of surgery more difficult and complicated.
Therefore, each step in the surgical process is consulted and planned in detail by doctors, from pre-anesthesia assessment, blood pressure control, to post-operative resuscitation, and close coordination between specialties.
The emergency surgery was quickly performed under the command of Dr. Huu Hoai Anh, Head of the Department of Digestive Surgery, E Hospital.
During the surgery, the surgeons discovered a lot of pus and pseudomembrane in the abdominal cavity due to a 2cm perforation from the stomach pylorus to the anterior surface of the duodenum, on the background of a fibrotic ulcer.
Surgeons quickly cleaned the abdominal cavity, performed emergency surgery to suture the perforated stomach and duodenum, and took samples for pathological examination.
Immediately after surgery, the patient was transferred to intensive care for further monitoring of severe septic shock due to generalized peritonitis due to gastric and duodenal perforation.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Khac Diep shared that perforated hollow organs have many causes and are considered a dangerous surgical emergency, especially in the elderly with underlying diseases such as blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
If this disease is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can lead to septic shock, severe poisoning and a very high mortality rate. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and surgical intervention with close coordination between many specialties such as anesthesia, cardiology, resuscitation, etc. play a decisive role in saving the patient from death.
Along with that, the recovery process and post-operative care are also very important. Closely monitoring health indicators and thoroughly treating infections help patients recover quickly and limit complications.
Under the careful monitoring and care of the team of doctors and nurses of the Department of Digestive Surgery, Hospital E, the old woman's health has stabilized. Up to now, the patient is conscious and continues to receive care to recover her health and can be discharged in the next few days.
Through this patient's case, Master, Doctor Nguyen Khac Diep recommends that people should not buy medicine to treat digestive diseases at home on their own. When unusual symptoms appear, they should immediately go to medical facilities for examination, diagnosis and timely treatment, especially in the elderly with many underlying diseases.
Hospital E, as a Grade I Central General Hospital, has many key specialties such as cardiology, gastroenterology, musculoskeletal, anesthesia and resuscitation, etc. It has all the conditions to promptly handle complicated cases such as this 85-year-old woman. The hospital not only successfully performed the surgery but also effectively managed risk factors, minimizing complications during and after surgery.
The case of the 85-year-old woman being saved is a clear demonstration of the professional capacity and smooth coordination between specialties, affirming the role of the hospital in treating difficult cases, especially those of the elderly or those with many complex underlying diseases.
Spinal cord tumor surgery saves patient from paralysis
Patient Vo Thi Q., 62 years old, residing in Xuan Hoi commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, had been suffering from neck pain and numbness in her limbs for a year. Initially, she was treated with medication and acupuncture, but the condition only improved slightly.
Recently, her mobility became more difficult, so her family decided to take her to K Hospital for examination. There, doctors discovered that she had a large tumor in the high cervical spinal cord (cervical vertebrae C2-C4), causing compression of the spinal cord.
According to Dr. Nguyen Duc Lien, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, high cervical meningioma is a rare disease and very difficult to treat. The high cervical cord is an area with many important nerve bundles, including nerves that control motor and respiratory functions. Therefore, tumor removal must ensure absolute safety for the spinal cord, avoiding complications of complete paralysis or need for a ventilator after surgery.
Symptoms of spinal cord tumors are often vague, manifesting only through neck and back pain and difficulty in movement, causing many people to be subjective. Therefore, doctors recommend that patients with persistent neck pain or those who do not respond to medication should undergo tests such as CT scans and MRIs to detect the disease early.
On December 7, Ms. Vo Thi Q. underwent microsurgery to remove the entire tumor that was compressing her spinal cord. During the 5-hour surgery, doctors used modern equipment such as an intraoperative neuro-alert system, microsurgical glasses, and an ultrasonic tumor suction knife.
Thanks to these technologies, doctors have removed the entire tumor without causing damage to the spinal cord and nearby nerves. The neural warning system helps detect risks in time, minimizing complications during surgery, thereby helping patients recover quickly.
Currently, Mrs. Q.'s health has recovered well. She can clearly feel her limbs and has started to walk again. Her daughter shared that my mother can move her limbs normally and eat normally right after the surgery. Our family is very happy with this result. It is expected that the patient will continue physical therapy and be discharged in the next few days.
Before being treated for cervical spinal cord tumor, Ms. Vo Thi Q. had been treated for early stage lung cancer at K Hospital. After surgery and radiation therapy, she has maintained stable health for many years. Since then, she has frequently traveled from Ha Tinh to Hanoi for medical examinations, always placing her trust in the doctors at K Hospital.
She shared, I am very lucky to have been treated for cancer twice by doctors at K Hospital and always feel secure when choosing the right treatment facility.
After lung cancer surgery in 2011 and now spinal cord tumor surgery, I still have confidence in the medical team here. I and many other patients are satisfied and grateful for the dedicated care at K Hospital.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-1912-bien-chung-nguy-hiem-do-ung-thu-tuyen-giap-di-can-d232980.html
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