Manipal Doctors successfully treat Giant Cell tumour in 85-year-old woman
Bengaluru: Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road successfully removed a benign aggressive bone tumor called Giant Cell tumor around the knee in an independently living 85-year-old woman, the first recorded case of its kind at this age in India.
Giant cell tumors are commonly seen within the age group of 20 to 40, and it rarely occurs among the elderly. As per the medical records in India, the oldest person diagnosed with Giant Cell Tumour was aged 83 years.
Mrs. Rajambal from Salem was referred to Dr. Srimanth B S, Consultant – Orthopaedic Onco Surgery, Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road after facing severe pain and swelling in her left knee for a duration of 3-4 months.
The team was suspecting a cancerous growth or bone metastases at her age, but a series of tests including a minimally invasive biopsy procedure indicated a Giant cell tumour of the lower part of her thigh bone around her knee region (lower end femur). This tumour was measuring approximately 6X8 cm in size and had destroyed the crucial weight-bearing zone of the femur bone.
Dr. Srimanth B S and his team did further tests to confirm the diagnosis since it was extremely rare at this age and immediately consulted Mrs. Rajambal and her relatives about the necessity of a tumour removal surgery for her knee.
Dr. Srimanth B S stated, "Considering her age, age-related arthritis and extent of bone destruction by the tumour, we would advise removal of the diseased lower part of the femur and replace it with a Modular Tumor Megaprosthesis. But Mrs. Rajambal surprisingly had minimal osteoarthritic changes around the knee, coupled with her motivation and enthusiasm she instead consented for Extended Curettage and reconstruction procedure which would help adequately clear the tumour and also retain her native knee joint. Her age, diabetes, and hypertension also placed her at high risk. With help of our anesthesia team, endocrinologist, cardiologist, and rehabilitation team, the treatment was successful and she could walk the very next day. We have been consulting the patient for 1-year post the surgery, she is free from tumour and her quality of life (independently living) has enhanced exponentially."
