King’s College Hospital Jeddah Successfully Performs Complex Tumor Surgery on Rare 20cm GIST
A specialized medical team at King’s College Hospital London – Jeddah successfully performed a complex tumor surgery to save the life of a patient with a giant gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The operation, led by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hafez, represents one of the most challenging gastrointestinal oncology procedures performed in the Kingdom.
Exceptional Case Complexity in Complex Tumor Surgery
The patient arrived experiencing severe chronic pain and internal gastric bleeding from a recurrent tumor approximately 20 cm in size – nearly 15 years after his initial surgery. The tumor had grown to exceptional proportions, extending to the diaphragm and pancreas while positioned dangerously close to the gastroesophageal junction.
Medical investigations revealed complete resistance to drug therapy, including Imatinib (Gleevec) even after dose escalation. The patient’s inability to tolerate alternative treatments due to side effects left complete surgical resection as the only viable option for this rare case.
Multidisciplinary Approach to High-Risk Surgery
Given the surgical complexity and high risk factors – including the patient’s advanced age, cardiac history, anemia, and severe adhesions from previous surgery – the hospital’s Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) conducted thorough case planning.
- Oncology and gastrointestinal surgery teams
- Thoracic surgery and interventional radiology
- Anesthesia, pain management, and intensive care
- Laboratory, pathology, and clinical nutrition specialists
A proactive measure involved splenic artery embolization via interventional radiology to reduce intraoperative bleeding risk, particularly crucial given the patient’s anemic condition.
Success in this operation was not based on individual surgical skill alone, but on a fully integrated system that began with accurate diagnosis, continued through meticulous multidisciplinary planning, and extended to precise surgical execution and postoperative follow-up.
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hafez, Consultant Surgical Oncology
Outstanding Surgical Results and Recovery
The complex tumor surgery was completed in approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes – significantly shorter than the initially expected five hours. The tumor was removed en bloc with complete preservation of the fragile tumor capsule, preventing stage alteration and reducing recurrence risk.
The patient experienced a smooth recovery without complications, spending only one precautionary day in intensive care before discharge after six days. This achievement demonstrates that seeking treatment abroad has become a personal choice rather than medical necessity, given the advanced capabilities available within Saudi hospitals like King’s College Hospital Jeddah.
