A man arrived at the hospital with a large tumor in his neck, the size of his head, after neglecting medical treatment for nearly 20 years because he believed it would resolve on its own.
Medical professionals at the Kirov Regional Clinical Hospital in Russia were surprised when the 65-year-old patient revealed that he had attempted to address the tumor with ointments instead of seeking professional help. Consequently, he endured the burden of the growth on his neck for 16 years.
The tumor was diagnosed as a lipoma by doctors, a benign fatty lump that develops between the skin and muscle tissue. Lipomas are typically painless and harmless if treated promptly. While they commonly occur on the back, shoulders, chest, arms, and thighs, they can manifest anywhere on the body.
Igor Popyrin, head of the surgical department, explained that lipomas usually grow slowly and may cause discomfort, leading many patients to delay seeking medical attention in the hope that the growth will disappear on its own.
Popyrin emphasized that lipomas do not vanish naturally and necessitate surgical removal for treatment. Neglecting the tumor could lead to malignancy or compression of surrounding tissues, underscoring the importance of early intervention.
According to the Mayo Clinic, lipomas typically grow to a size of one to two inches but can enlarge further in some instances. Surgeons meticulously removed the man’s tumor, which had spread across blood vessels and nerves, requiring him to remain on his side during the procedure due to its massive size.
The hospital confirmed that the tumor, equivalent in size to a 3-liter container, was the largest ever excised through surgery. Despite the challenges, the man survived the operation and is now recuperating.
In another case, a man had a sizable five-inch ‘devil’s horn’ removed from the back of his head after enduring three years of agony. Following the surgical removal under general anesthesia, the growth was tested for cancer, providing the patient with relief and a new sense of freedom.
Vascular surgeon Ruzil Khurmatullin conducted the operation to eliminate the corneal keratoma growth, a rare occurrence for Doctor Chelny in Russia, who had not encountered such a case in his 25-year career as a surgeon.