A 35-centimeter, 9-kilogram mass was removed from a 71-year-old woman’s abdomen with surgery at Near East University Hospital.
A 71-year-old woman, who had been experiencing abdominal bloating, excessive gas, an inability to defecate, urinary incontinence, and an inability to eat for the past year, lost approximately 10 kilograms during this period. The operation at Near East University Hospital revealed a mass measuring approximately 35×40 centimeters, completely filling the patient’s abdominal cavity. The mass was successfully removed during the operation, performed by Near East University Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan, General Surgeon Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Özant, and their team. Following the successful surgery, the patient’s urinary and gas problems recovered on the first day. After starting to eat, she was discharged on the third day in good health.

Soft tissue tumors, which affect thousands of people worldwide every year, are dangerous masses that, despite being rare, can grow rapidly and cause serious health problems. The type, location, and stage of the tumor can directly affect the treatment process. A multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment significantly increases the success rate.

Near East University Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan, who performed the surgery on a 71-year-old woman who came from abroad to Near East University, highlighted the medical and societal aspects of soft tissue tumors, while General Surgeon Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Özant emphasized the key points in the treatment process.

Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan: “Approximately 100,000 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma are diagnosed worldwide every year!”
Near East University Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan stated that sarcomas are malignant tumors that originate from fat, soft tissue, blood vessels, ligaments, and fibrous tissues that form the body’s support and structure. Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan stated that approximately 100,000 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma are diagnosed worldwide each year. Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan said, “It is known that some genetic diseases and environmental factors may play a role in the development of sarcomas. However, most sarcomas are sporadic, that is, incidental, and idiopathic, that is, cases of unknown cause.”

Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan pointed out that more than 100 different tissue structures and genetic subtypes have been identified in the pathological classification of sarcomas, adding, “The clinical course of each subtype can differ.” Prof. Dr. Salih Müjdat Balkan also said that cell shape, immune system responses, and genetic characteristlsics are also taken into account in the classification of soft tissue tumors, adding, “Important information about the course of the disease and treatment outcome is obtained based on the tumor’s location, size, and tissue structure.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Özant: “Early diagnosis and disease course are critical factors that directly affect treatment success!”
General Surgeon Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Özant emphasized that the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcomas must be operated under appropriate conditions and by specialists in the field. He said “In addition to extensive surgical removal of the tumor, additional treatment methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy are applied before and after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.” He also emphasized the crucial importance of a collaborative approach involving various specialists, stating that early diagnosis and the presence of a spreading disease at the time of diagnosis are critical factors that directly impact treatment success.