Kidney Cancer Reaches Major Vein, Complex Surgery Saves Life of Five-Year-Old
Child had an abdominal lump for a year; doctors at Sanjay Gandhi PGI removed the affected kidney and cancerous clot from the major vein
Lucknow: Doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Sanjay Gandhi PGI) successfully performed a complex surgery on a five-year-old boy suffering from an advanced kidney cancer, saving his life. The tumour had grown beyond the kidney and extended into the inferior vena cava (IVC), one of the body's major veins, where it had formed a cancerous clot.
The surgery was performed under the leadership of Prof. Basant Kumar, Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery. The child is recovering well after the operation. He will undergo further chemotherapy and radiotherapy as part of his treatment.
Abdominal Lump for Nearly a Year
The child, a resident of Kanpur, had an abdominal lump for nearly a year. Investigations revealed a Wilms tumour, a type of kidney cancer that primarily affects children. The disease had progressed and the tumour had extended into the IVC. The child had already received five cycles of chemotherapy at a private hospital in Kanpur before being referred to Sanjay Gandhi PGI for specialised treatment.
Cancerous Clot Removed from Major Vein
Prof. Basant Kumar said the child underwent nephroureterectomy with IVC thrombectomy. The procedure involved removal of the affected right kidney and ureter, along with removal of the cancerous tumour clot from inside the IVC.
The surgery was particularly challenging as the tumour had extended behind the liver towards the major vein and was also close to the left renal vein. The surgical team carefully exposed the major blood vessels, separated the tumour clot and removed it while maintaining blood flow and protecting the surrounding structures.
In such advanced cases, removal of the tumour from a major vein is technically demanding because any injury to the vessel can result in significant blood loss and compromise circulation.
Do Not Ignore Abdominal Lump in Children
Prof. Basant Kumar advised parents not to ignore any unusual lump, swelling or increase in abdominal size in children. Early evaluation and timely treatment by a paediatric surgeon can help detect serious conditions at an earlier stage and improve treatment outcomes.




































