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The Paediatric General Surgery Department at Manipal Hospitals, Mukundapur, Kolkata, is renowned for its expertise in the surgical management of solid tumours in children. Our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive, cutting-edge care tailored to the unique needs of our young patients and their families. Solid tumours, which can occur in various parts of the body, require precise and often complex surgical interventions. Our pediatric surgeons are highly skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of solid tumours, including neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumour, rhabdomyosarcoma, and hepatoblastoma.
At Manipal Hospitals, Mukundapur, we employ the latest diagnostic tools and surgical technologies to ensure the best possible outcomes for our pediatric patients. For surgery for solid tumours in children in Mukundapur, we utilise minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery whenever possible, resulting in smaller incisions, reduced pain, and quicker recovery times. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates closely to develop personalised treatment plans for each child, including advanced imaging studies and 3D modelling to precisely map the tumour's location and plan the surgical approach. We also use state-of-the-art intraoperative navigation systems to enhance surgical precision, ensuring the complete removal of the tumour while preserving healthy surrounding tissues.
A solid tumour is a mass of abnormal tissue that forms when cells grow uncontrollably. These can occur in various parts of the body and may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
The symptoms of solid tumours are:
Persistent pain in a specific area, like the belly, back, or bones
Lump or swelling that can be felt under the skin
Sudden and noticeable weight loss without trying
A long-lasting cough or difficulty breathing
Constant headaches, problems with vision, or other changes in how your child feels or acts
Easy bruising or bleeding without a clear reason
Solid tumours emerge as lumps that can be felt or detected by radiologic examination. Solid tumours can form in a variety of locations, including bones, soft tissue (muscles and tendons), and various organs such as the kidneys, liver, and eyes. Some solid tumours, such as neuroblastoma and Wilm's tumour, only affect children.
The most prevalent forms of solid tumours are:
Neuroblastoma: This cancer is typically detected in the abdomen.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancer that develops in the muscles.
Retinoblastoma is the most frequent type of eye cancer.
Wilms tumour: This cancer affects one or both kidneys.
Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are bone malignancies.
Hepatoblastoma: This cancer is a common liver tumour in babies.
The doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and family history and perform a physical exam to check for lumps or swelling.
Imaging tests for diagnosing solid tumours in children include X-rays, which look for abnormal masses; ultrasounds, which use sound waves to create images of internal organs; CT scans, which provide detailed images of the body to pinpoint the tumour’s size and location; and MRIs, which produce detailed images of soft tissues, often used for brain and spinal cord tumours.
A biopsy may be performed in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the tumour site to examine under a microscope. This can be done with a needle (needle biopsy) or through minor surgery (surgical biopsy).
Blood and urine tests: To check for markers that might indicate cancer.
The surgical approach depends on the tumour’s location, size, and type. Options include:
Open Surgery: Involves a larger incision to directly access and remove the tumour.
Minimally Invasive Surgery: Includes techniques like laparoscopy or thoracoscopy, using small incisions and special instruments to remove the tumour. Usually, these operations cause less pain and require less time to heal.
In some cases, solid tumours in children can be treated and potentially cured without surgery, depending on the type, location, and stage of the tumour. Non-surgical treatments may include:
Chemotherapy: Employs potent medications to completely eliminate cancer cells or prevent their growth. It can be used alone to shrink the tumour before surgery or to eliminate remaining cancer cells after surgery.
Radiation Therapy: Targets and eliminates cancer cells using high-energy radiation. It can be effective for certain types of tumours and is sometimes combined with chemotherapy.
Targeted Therapy: Uses drugs that specifically target cancer cells' unique characteristics, minimising damage to healthy cells.
Immunotherapy: Increases the immune system's capacity to fight cancer. This treatment can be effective for some types of tumours.
Hormone Therapy: Used for tumours that are sensitive to hormones. This treatment can slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
In leukaemia, the majority of cancer cells are made up of a single cell type (such as B cells) that all express the same antigen. A solid tumour, on the other hand, is composed of various cell types, each with its own mutation and antigen expression. It is more difficult to construct a CAR T (a type of treatment where a patient's T cells are modified to kill the cancer cells) for heterogeneous tumours that target multiple antigens simultaneously.
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