Rare Dual-Tumor Surgery Saves Woman’s Life at Sharda Care Healthcity

TEN NEWS NETWORK

Greater Noida (2 July 2025): In a remarkable feat of surgical expertise, a multidisciplinary team at Sharda Care Healthcity, Greater Noida, has successfully performed a rare and highly complex surgery to remove two distinct tumors—one from the thyroid and another from the mediastinum (the central compartment of the chest)—in a single, minimally invasive procedure.

The patient, Preeti Sharma, 37, a resident of Greater Noida, had been struggling with increasing breathing difficulties, swallowing issues, hoarseness of voice, and chest tightness. She was initially diagnosed with a large 13 cm thyroid tumor, visibly protruding from the left side of her neck. However, a CT scan performed at a different hospital revealed a second, 5 cm tumor located deep in the mediastinum, dangerously close to the heart and major blood vessels. Together, these tumors compressed her windpipe from opposite sides, distorting it into an S-shaped curve, making normal breathing progressively more difficult.

Although she had previously been taken up for surgery at another hospital, the procedure was abandoned mid-way due to the complexity and risks involved. Ms. Sharma later sought a second opinion at Sharda Care Healthcity, where doctors took swift and decisive action to address her condition.

The case was led by Dr. Hemkant Verma, Senior Consultant and Surgical Oncologist, who described the situation as extremely rare and high-risk. In my over ten years of surgical practice, I have rarely encountered two anatomically distinct tumors compressing the same vital structure—the trachea—from different directions, said Dr. Verma. The proximity of the mediastinal tumor to critical structures like the heart, major blood vessels, and essential nerves, including the phrenic and recurrent laryngeal nerves, posed an enormous surgical challenge.

The team opted for a minimally invasive technique known as Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) to remove the mediastinal mass. Through three small (1 cm) incisions on the chest, the tumor was carefully dissected without disturbing the nearby heart, lungs, or nerves. This advanced approach avoided the need for traditional open thoracic surgery, which typically involves rib spreading and a larger incision—resulting in less postoperative pain, reduced recovery time, and minimal scarring.

Simultaneously, the large thyroid tumor was excised through a small, precision incision in the neck, all within the same surgical session. The entire procedure lasted approximately three hours, requiring flawless coordination between surgical teams and the use of state-of-the-art surgical technologies.

This dual-tumor surgery was both rare and demanding. Not only did we have to protect the patient’s airway and preserve her voice, but we also had to ensure the integrity of nerves that control breathing, Dr. Verma added. The successful outcome is a testament to the skill of our surgical team and the advanced infrastructure at Sharda Care Healthcity.

Post-surgery, Ms. Sharma is reported to be recovering well, with no postoperative complications and a strong prognosis. She is expected to resume normal activities within weeks.

Mr. Rishabh Gupta, Vice President of Sharda Care – Healthcity, emphasized the broader significance of the case, This groundbreaking surgery reflects our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge, high-risk medical care using the most advanced techniques available. We are proud to offer clinical excellence that is both accessible and world-class.