Pune: A neurosurgical team at Sahyadri Hospital has successfully removed a massive 16.5 cm tumour from a patient’s spinal cord. The rare, long-segment tumour spanned from the brainstem, through the cervical spine, and down to the fourth thoracic level.Intramedullary tumours (those arising within the spinal cord) are relatively rare, and cases involving multiple spinal levels are even less frequent. In this instance, the tumour reached the medulla oblongata in the brainstem—the critical region controlling vital functions such as breathing and heart rate—making the surgical intervention exceptionally high-risk.To ensure safety, surgeons had to meticulously open the spinal cord and separate the tumour from surrounding neural tissue. Such procedures carry a significant risk of permanent neurological deficits, including paralysis or the impairment of basic life-sustaining functions, if critical nerve pathways are compromised.The surgical team utilised advanced microsurgical techniques and intraoperative neuro-monitoring —a “real-time” tracking system that alerts doctors to nerve stress. Despite the complexity, the tumour was removed in a single piece.“This was a challenging case due to the tumour’s immense size and its proximity to critical neural structures,” said Dr Jaydev Panchawagh, senior consultant neurosurgeon at Sahyadri Hospital. “Our primary goal was to achieve maximal safe removal while preserving the patient’s neurological function.”Specialists noted that symptoms of spinal cord tumours —such as persistent neck or back pain, limb weakness, sensory changes, or loss of coordination — are often mistaken for common orthopedic issues. These misdiagnoses frequently lead to delays in treatment. In advanced stages, prolonged compression of the spinal cord can result in permanent damage that cannot be reversed even after successful surgery.Doctors emphasised that early evaluation through MRI imaging and timely referral to specialised neuro-centres are vital for recovery. While outcomes vary based on the tumour type and the duration of symptoms, early intervention remains the best defense against lasting paralysis.
