Chennai, Dec 23: For nine-year old Mupenji of Congo, coming Christmas will be the happiest in his life, as doctors at a private hospital here have successfully removed a cricket ball-sized tumour from his brain and retained his vision.
Mupenji Assumani Ephrem-Chancard developed progressive headache, other hormonal changes and was frequently fainting during his school hours lately. Medical treatment in his country, France and England was not helping much as it was too expensive and a mere shunt procedure costed him 10,000 USD in his country and 20,000 Euros in other countries.
“His condition was quite serious when he came to us, as he lost vision in his right eye and was losing it in left too. His hormones were not in balance,” Dr Venkateshwara Prasanna, consultant neuro-surgeon at Fortis Malar Hospital here said. He was diagnosed to be having Pituitary Macro Adenoma, a rare tumour in children. The tumour had severe compression on the optic nerve and there was enormous imbalance in his hormone levels.
“Only 2 per cent of children with brain tumour get this. He was one among them,” Dr Shankar said.
The hospital decided for two surgeries - Transnasal Transphenoidal endoscopic decompression of giant sellar and suprasellar and Transcranial Subfrontal microscopic excision of the residual tumour on him, a procedure that involved eight doctors treating him.
“Simply put, a cricket ball-sized tumour was pressing many nerves including those of the eyes. So, he was losing vision. He had other problems since pituitary gland is controlling other glands,” Dr Shriraam Mahadevan said.
Eight doctors performed surgeries in two operations to remove the tumour. The first one involved removing of a part of the tumour through his nose, while the second opened his skull to remove the rest of the tumour.
“Mupenji has now retained vision in his left eye. The right eye will take some time, as many nerves have been compressed for a long time,” ophthalmologist Dr Lalitha Ganesh said.
A visibly delighted Mwamini Chambu Aline, who accompanied Mupenji to India for treatment said “We thank you. The Indian doctors here were really good and helping.” Mupenji will be leaving for Congo to celebrate Christmas with his family.
