An intervention done by the medical team in King Abdulaziz hospital in Al-Ahsa has saved a woman in her thirties who was suffering from a rare tumor that only affects one in a million. The tumor is classified as one of the most serious diseases because it is difficult to detect and its affects on the body are severe. The patient had been transferred to the Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic.
The Consultant of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at King Abdulaziz Hospital, Dr. Ali Al-Qarni said that there were signs of excessive growth hormone secretion in the patient, which can be the cause of diabetes. After being diagnosed through tests and an MRI scan, the rare tumor was found in her pituitary gland.
Dr. Al-Qarni pointed out that this type of tumor is not easily identified as its symptoms are slow to show and are usually identified after more than 10 years. Some of the symptoms present in swollen limbs and jaws and enlarged internal organs such as the heart. He also added that the treatment would be performed via surgical removal. These types of surgeries usually take place in advanced and specialized centers.
The surgery was successful and didn’t have any complications. Final test results confirmed that the tumor had been completely removed. This procedure is the first of its kind to be conducted in the hospital. If the procedure had not been performed the patient might have suffered from many complications such as diabetes and an enlarged heart. Dr. Al-Qarni said: “People with this disease are at risk of cancerous tumors, particularly colon cancer.”
Doctors believe late diagnosis for this tumor is due to its rarity and as such health organizations need to spread awareness among other doctors and to refer patients to specialists when in doubt.