August 20, 2025

A rare and tough skin cancer called Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) put a young IT professional through a tough fight for over eight long years. This cancer was no ordinary cut-and-heal problem; it attacked his scalp and skull fiercely. But here comes the exciting news from Chennai’s SIMS Hospital—a smart multidisciplinary team took on this challenge and won big! Doctors first snipped out the tumor that had worn down the patient’s scalp and skull. But they did not stop there. The next big hurdle was to rebuild the skull itself! Using skill and careful planning, they reconstructed it perfectly. Then came the colorful part—repairing the scalp in stages using skin grafts and flaps, and a helpful tissue expander. To top it all, the final touch to fix the scalp was done using tissue taken from the patient’s very own thigh. Talk about personalized surgery! As if that wasn’t enough, the medical warriors removed a painful metastatic nodule from the patient’s lung during the same procedure. Imagine battling cancer in two tricky places at once! This victory wasn’t easy. Dr. R. Krishnamoorthy, former director of plastic surgery at ICAPS, and Dr. Shyamnath Krishna Pandian K., consultant plastic surgeon at ICAPS, explained that the tumor was dangerously close to the brain, making the surgery extremely complex. But the result is stunning. The patient’s scalp is now fully covered with healthy, stable tissue—a true sign of a second chance at normal life. The journey doesn’t end here. The patient will have to keep up regular check-ups to catch any return of cancer early. Doctors also advise sun protection and good scalp hygiene to keep the area safe. SIMS Hospital’s win over this rare and stubborn cancer shines as a beacon of hope and expert care for many battling similar woes.

Read More at Thehindu →

Tags: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Skin cancer, Sims hospital, Skull reconstruction, Plastic surgery, Rare cancer treatment,