“It was possible to successfully remove eight cancerous tumors on the patient’s kidneys and adrenal glands without removing their kidney,” Dr. Hiwa Abdulrahman Chomani, a urologist, told Rudaw on Wednesday, adding that the size of the tumors ranged from 1.5 to 6 centimeters.
Since the patient suffered from Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a rare disease, a decision was made to keep his kidney and protect it in case any issue was to arise, the doctor said.
Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare, genetic multi-system disorder in which tumors grow in certain parts of the body, according to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
“We removed the nodules and cysts on the kidney without removing the kidney, thus preventing constant dialysis and the dangerous effects of cancer,” Chomani said.
The patient has been discharged from hospital and his condition is now stable, he added.
According to the urologist, anyone who has a family history of kidney and urinary problems should have an “early check-up” at least once per year to identify any disorders and make them easier to treat.
The surgery was performed by a team of surgeons in Erbil’s Rizgari Hospital under the supervision of Chomani, by using a different method to remove cancerous tumors of the kidneys and adrenal glands which saved the patient from constant dialysis. The operation lasted about two to three hours.
