Woman has large cancerous tumor removed from face
A 20-year-old woman has had a 12-kilogram tumor removed from the left side of her face, experts from Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital have announced.
The woman initially suffered an imbalance in growth on the left side of her face since her childhood. Her family took her to different hospitals without success.
The size of the lump doubled within several months earlier this year.
She went to Dr Li Qingfen, an expert on nerofibroma, at the Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital.
Li said the patient's tumor had began a cancerous change. Surgery was risky with the possibility of a hemorrhage.
Doctors conducted a10-hour surgery to remove the entire neurofibroma, and then reconstructed her face.
According to Li, the patient suffered neurofibroma due to a mutation of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). There is no cure at present, so surgery is the most effective treatment. Other treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy are still under development.
“Our team is focusing on comprehensive treatment, new methods and new drug developments,” Li said.
Dr Li Qingfeng (center) during surgery
