Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: Using an innovative and novel technique for cancer treatment, onco-surgeons at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, excised a stage 2 oral cancer tumour from the face of a 46 year-old man in a scar-less surgery, recently.
Sujinder Singh, a patient from Sonipat, presented to BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, with carcinoma of right cheek and tongue (Buccal Mucosa). This is the most common kind of oral cavity cancer.
One of the biggest concerns of most oral cancer patients is the post-surgery aesthetic appearance and disfigurement of their face. It may also leave patients compromised with their quality of life such as change in speech (with an operated/disfigured tongue), drooling of saliva and/or difficulty in swallowing.
Oral cancers, as typically operated, leave massive scarring on the survivor’s face and neck area, at times requiring elaborate and multiple plastic-reconstructive surgeries.
The surgery, performed by Dr Surender Kumar Dabas, Senior Director & HoD, Surgical Oncology & Robotic Surgery, BLK-Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, approached the oral cavity by making four small holes, measuring 8 mm each under the patient’s collar bone.
In this latest and innovative technique, doctors planned a scar-less robotic surgery after thoroughly evaluating the placement of his cancer. The surgery ensured that no cuts were externally made on the face and neck of the patient.
Dr Dabas said, “Patient was very conscious about aesthetics post-surgery. We ensured there was no incision over the face/neck for good cosmetic results. Post removal of the cancerous tumour robotically, a free (skin) flap measuring 6 cm by 6 cm was harvested from the thigh and used to fill the gap in the cheek.”
“This is the first ever attempted technique of carrying out successful scar-less surgery of the head and neck region. During the entire surgery, no incision was made on the face/neck. We have since then, carried out several more such surgeries on patients of oral cancer. This approach avoided surgery related to shoulder weakness, neck tightness & facial scar,” Dr Dabas added.
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