NIMS surgeons remove tumour behind woman’s cheekbone without facial scars

NIMS surgeons removed a 3 cm benign tumour behind a 29-year-old woman's cheekbone through a small opening in her lower eyelid. The six-hour procedure left no visible facial scar, and the patient retained her vision and nerve functions.

Hyderabad: In a breakthrough medical procedure, neurosurgeons at NIMS have removed a deeply lodged benign tumour behind the cheekbone from a 29-year-old woman without leaving a single facial scar.

The woman had suffered from persistent frontal headaches for three months, and images revealed a 3 cm schwannoma, a non-cancerous nerve sheath tumour, behind her cheekbone, neurosurgeon Dr Y Thirumal Yerragunta said.

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Conventionally, removing tumours from this complex region requires invasive open surgery with facial incisions and bone-cutting, or endoscopic nasal surgery.

Instead, the NIMS team utilised an innovative transconjunctival approach through the lower eyelid. Guided by real-time neuronavigation, surgeons created a small corridor along the eye socket floor to access and completely remove the mass in a six-hour operation.

The patient’s vision and nerve functions remained intact, and she was discharged on the fourth day. The multidisciplinary team of surgeons led by Dr Yerragunta and ophthalmologist Dr Modini said the entire procedure was conducted free of cost under the State-run Aarogyasri initiative.