07-04-2025
Dubai child with watermelon-sized scalp tumour gets back to normal life after complex surgery
A six-year-old who was in extreme discomfort and couldn't go to school and also avoided social interactions because of a disfiguring scalp tumour has undergone a life-altering surgery in Dubai that has enable her to get back a normal life.
The complicated procedure performed at Medcare Hospital Al Safa involved removal of the growth and reconstruction of the affected scalp area
The little girl had a watermelon-sized scalp tumour, perhaps one of the largest ever documented in the world, which also made her unable to sleep, hair loss in addition to attracting unwanted attention and socially isolating her.
'It was heartbreaking to see how much this condition impacted the child,' Dr. Jamil Al Jamali, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, told Khaleej Times. 'She used to cover her head with the scarf to avoid people looking at her. She was not able to look at people when they spoke to her, because she was trying to hide her face . At such a young age, no child should have to endure such pain and isolation, nor should they have to be conscious about their appearance.'
After the surgery, the child's father said he had thought it was 'impossible' to see her 'laugh, play and live pain-free' like she is now and was elated to see her 'amazing' transformation.
Dr. Jamil added he was 'very happy' to have been able to impact the child's life in such a huge way. 'She will go down as one of my most memorable cases because I have seen how much her condition has improved in the last few months,' he said.
One in every 6,000 child affected
According to Dr. Jamil, the child suffered from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)- a condition that affects approximately one million people worldwide. The genetic condition causes non-cancerous skin lesions as well as seizures. Each year, roughly one in every 6,000 children are born with the condition.
Usually, TSC causes scalp tumours that measure approximately 6cm. However, this child's growth measured a massive 20cm x 10cm. When she was just one year old, her parents discovered a tiny lump in the back of her head, in addition to severe seizures. As she grew, the lesion frequently ulcerated and resulted in bleeding.
Over time, the child became conscious of her appearance and often avoided group activities and social gatherings.
Complex procedure
In addition to the size of the tumour, its position in a highly delicate spot was also a challenge for the medical procedure. 'Our challenge was to remove such a huge amount of skin while reconstructing the scalp in a way to allow natural hair growth,' said Dr. Jamil. 'We also had to reduce the blood loss of the patient with such a big tumour. We had to plan the surgery meticulously and with precision to avoid future complications.'
Upon examination, the lesion was found to be firm and immobile, and the underlying skin was mostly devoid of hair. A CT and MRI scan was also conducted. Thereafter, Dr. Jamil and his team used an innovative flap reconstruction technique, using skin from around the area to close the wound. This allowed them to remove the growth and restore the affected area with minimal hair loss- giving the girl a full cosmetic and functional recovery.
The child recovered quickly from her surgery and her seizures were brought under control with medication. With the surgery area healed and hair growing naturally, the young girl is all set to go to school and socialise with other children.
'She is so happy now,' Dr. Jamil added. 'She started going to school and doesn't feel the need to cover her head. She is able to maintain good eye contact with everyone.'
