Early Detection Helps Save 8-Year-Old from Rare Pancreatic Tumor at KIMS Hospital
Visakhapatnam: The pancreas is one of the most crucial and sensitive organs in the human body. A tumor in the pancreas can be extremely dangerous.
An eight-year-old girl suffering from such a rare condition received timely relief when the doctors at KIMS Hospital, Seethammadhara, performed an advanced surgical procedure with great precision. Dr. Muralidhar Nambada, Chief Consultant – Gastrointestinal, Hepato-Biliary, and Pancreatic Surgeon, shared the details of the case.
“An eight-year-old girl from Visakhapatnam came to our hospital with severe abdominal pain. After an Endoscopic Ultrasound performed by our Gastroenterology Chief, Dr. Achanta Chalapathi Rao, we detected a very rare pancreatic tumor known as Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasm (SPEN).
This made her the youngest patient in India to undergo surgery for this condition. Although the tumor has a very low chance of showing cancerous cells , it is a potentially cancerous tumor and the possibility of future complications led us to decide on surgical removal.
We conducted a laparoscopic central pancreatectomy (keyhole surgery) lasting three hours, ensuring minimal blood loss and preserving as much of the pancreatic tissue as possible while completely removing the tumor. The child recovered remarkably fast after the surgery.
As she displayed no postoperative complications, she was discharged within five days. She is now back in school and performing well in both academics and sports.
This surgery stands as a testament to the expertise required to remove such rare pancreatic tumors. Although these tumors are extremely uncommon, we have diagnosed and treated 12 such cases over the past ten years,” Dr. Muralidhar Nambada said. “Early detection and exceptional surgical skills are crucial in handling such rare conditions.
KIMS Hospital is known for delivering exceedingly safe outcomes even in complex cases. People in the Uttarandhra region no longer need to travel to bigger cities for such advanced treatments. This surgery further strengthens KIMS Hospital’s reputation in keyhole surgeries for both children and adults.” Dr. Ravi Chandra Reddy and Dr. Gopala Krishna were also part of the surgical team.
Khushi Chittoria joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Media and Editorial Intern. She holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from IP University and has completed certifications in content writing. She has a strong interest in anchoring, content writing, and editing. At Medical Dialogues, Khushi works in the editorial department, web stories and anchoring.