St. Maximilian Hospital in Oświęcim
Surgeons in Oświęcim have carried out a record breaking operation after removing a 30-kilo tumour from a woman’s ovaries.
The massive tumour measuring 60cm by 40cm, the largest ovarian tumour ever recorded in Poland, took eight doctors 90 minutes to remove after the 25-year-old woman was taken in at the town’s St. Maximilian Hospital.
The benign tumour was discovered after the woman, who initially thought she had just put on a bit of weight, sought medical advice after having problems with what doctors described as ‘basic bodily functions’.
Lead surgeon Dr. Andrzej Korfanty said: “The worst part of the operation was to remove the tumour completely from the abdomen, so that it would not burst, that the contents would not spill into the abdomen, that it would not damage other organs of the abdominal cavity, that it would not detach from the uterus, which is relatively small at the same time compared to this gigantic tumour.”
The benign tumour was discovered after the woman, who initially thought she had just put on a bit of weight, sought medical advice after having problems with what doctors described as ‘basic activities’.
Test results revealed that the tumour had extended from the bottom of the woman’s pelvis to the dome of her diaphragm.
Test results revealed that the tumour had extended from the bottom of her pelvis to the dome of her diaphragm.
After the tumour was removed the patient excreted 6 litres of urine.
The massive tumour weighing 30-kilos and measuring 60cm by 40cm, is the largest ovarian tumour ever recorded in Poland.
Dr. Korfanty suggested that because the patient had not previously visited a gynaecologist, the tumour had been allowed to grow undetected.
He said: “The woman probably never saw a gynaecologist. That is why I appeal to all women to visit the gynaecologist at least once a year.
Lead surgeon Dr. Andrzej Korfanty (centre) said: “The worst part of the operation was to remove the tumour completely from the abdomen.”
“Those ladies who are burdened in some way, be it familial or genetic, should be more frequent. You don’t go to the gynaecologist when something hurts, because then it may be too late. You visit the gynaecologist more often, then we have a chance for a long and happy life.”
He added that the woman will now be about four dress sizes smaller.
Dr. Korfanty suggested that because the patient had not previously visited a gynaecologist, the tumour had been allowed to grow undetected.
Most ovarian tumours are benign and occur in women of child bearing age.
Some of the signs of an ovarian tumour include stomach bloating, increased belly size, stomach or pelvic pain, constipation, lower back pain, painful cramps during menstruation and either difficulty urinating or urinating frequently.
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