Infant wins over rare tumour without chemotherapy

Kolkata: A two-year-old abandoned girl has battled a rare type of tumour without going for chemotherapy at Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

The girl was diagnosed with the tumor at the time of her birth.

"Meenu was born with the tumor on October 3, 2017 at the hospital. After knowing about her problem, her parents left her on the hospital bed. She was named Meenu by hospital authorities and, at present, she is fine," said Dr Indranil Biswas, medical superintendent and vice-principal of Medical College and Hospital.

Hospital authorities had taken help of the police to trace the address of the parents of the infant.

However, the address given by the parents at the time of admitting the mother at the hospital was incorrect. Thereafter, the hospital took care of the child. "With all the possible help of the hospital authorities she provided adequate medical care. She was diagnosed with Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (which is a type of tumor). Interestingly, the child has recovered without chemotherapy and can lead a normal life. It is unexplainable," said Dr Sukanta Kumar Das, head of the department of paediatric surgery.

While, a team of doctors from department of paediatric surgery and department of medical oncology joined hands to treat the child. A tumor board was also formed.

"Initially, we thought of chemotherapy. However, since the problem was in the infant's abdomen, we couldn't go for it as it could have been extremely painful for her. After that girl was under Dr Sukanta Kumar Das's treatment," said Dr Shibashish Bhattacharyya, head of the department of medical oncology. The baby is now free of the disease. She will be under observation for another three years.

"The biopsy report of the baby revealed Oligoastrocytoma (a mixed glioma tumor) (WHO Grade III). She was given third cycle chemotherapy but the treatment was extremely painful for the baby, so we had to stop it," said Dr Ajay Kumar Das of the paediatric surgery department. Meanwhile, the hospital authorities are also looking for someone who can adopt the child by going for formal procedure prescribed by the government.

"The baby is doing well. She is familiar with all the staff of the hospital. We are taking care of her and giving her full attention. She is not deprived of the family care and affection. However, when she will grew up she would realise how her childhood was spend at the hospital," said Dr Shabbirul Islam of the Pediatric Surgery Department.