A large 10-centimeter tumor of the adrenal glands was accidentally discovered in a woman during a routine examination. A dangerous neoplasm that could kill the patient at any moment was successfully removed by Lviv surgeons of the St. Panteleimon Hospital.
The patient is a 40-year-old resident of Lviv region with multiple sclerosis. This is an incurable progressive disease of the central nervous system. All conscious woman resists chronic illness with all her might. She also sought salvation abroad, where she underwent experimental treatment, which, according to her, helped. In order to control her condition, the woman constantly undergoes examinations, including MRI examinations. A tumor was discovered during a routine tomography scan.
Specialists of the St. Panteleimon Surgery Center conducted all necessary additional examinations, including ultrasound and CT, and found that the woman had a pheochromocytoma. This is a fairly rare benign tumor of the adrenal glands, which disrupts the process of hormone production. According to statistics, it occurs in 1 person per 100,000.
At the time of the patient’s examination, the pheochromocytoma had already grown to 10 cm and posed a direct threat to life. First, the tumor pressed on nearby organs and structures and could rupture. Secondly, the adrenal glands produce extremely important hormones that regulate the level of blood pressure. At any moment, the woman could have a hypertensive crisis and lead to sudden death.
Given the size of the tumor, conservative treatment would not have helped the woman. The only way out is surgery. During the intervention, surgeons at the St. Panteleimon Hospital performed a left-sided adrenalectomy (removal of the tumor along with the adrenal gland). The operation lasted 2 hours and was successful. On the fourth day after the intervention, the patient went home. After the woman got rid of the tumor, she wants to focus again on the further treatment of her chronic disease – multiple sclerosis.