Nour Hospital in Makkah have successfully carried out a rare surgical operation on a 2-year-old Saudi child to remove a benign lymphatic tumor on the left side of his face. The child, who suffered facial deformities from the calcification of veins and arteries supplying blood to the brain and nerves, is said to be recovering well from the 10-hour operation and is expected to be discharged soon. “He will undergo plastic surgery once a period of four years has passed,” said Dr Awaad Al-Besheri, Maxillofacial Consultant Surgeon at Al-Nour. Doctors decided to embark on surgery after the tumor, which was located at the base of the skull, failed to respond to treatment from the hospital's oncologists. “The tumor caused deformities in the lymphatic membrane which led to lymphatic fluid collecting in the neck,” Al-Besheri said. “This produced severe complications such as breathing difficulties and the growth of the tumor prompted surgical intervention.”
