NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, NOV 6
In a historic feat for Indian paediatric oncology, Apollo Children’s Hospital, Chennai, has successfully treated the country’s youngest patient with aggressive thyroid cancer — a 5-year-10-month-old girl from West Bengal. The complex surgery marks a milestone in India’s medical history, combining world-class surgical precision, multidisciplinary expertise, and compassionate care.
- Chennai doctors successfully treat India’s youngest patient with aggressive thyroid cancer
- Landmark surgery highlights power of early diagnosis, advanced expertise, and multidisciplinary collaboration
- “This was an extremely rare and challenging case,” says lead surgeon Dr. Balaji
The child’s father brought her to Apollo Children’s Hospital after noticing a swelling in her neck. Detailed evaluation revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer in children.
Given the tumour’s location near critical neck structures, Dr. Balaji, Senior Consultant, ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, led the intricate operation, supported by a team of experts including Dr. Sriprakash Duraisamy, Consultant, Head & Neck and Skull Base Surgery, and Dr. Jeenat Malawat, Consultant, Paediatric ENT Surgery, Apollo Children’s Hospital.
During the procedure, the surgical team discovered extensive metastases but meticulously preserved vital structures such as major vessels and nerves. However, the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, encased by the tumour, had to be carefully sacrificed to achieve full tumour clearance and prevent recurrence.
Postoperative scans confirmed no significant tracer uptake, indicating the cancer had been completely removed. The child has since made a remarkable recovery, regaining a near-normal voice and returning to an active, healthy life.
“This was an extremely rare and challenging case. Performing a total thyroidectomy with bilateral central and lateral neck dissections for papillary thyroid carcinoma in such a young child is unprecedented in India. The success of this surgery underscores the importance of early diagnosis, advanced surgical techniques, and a skilled multidisciplinary approach. We are delighted that the child has recovered well and is leading a normal life,” said Dr. Balaji, ENT Surgeon, Apollo Children’s Hospitals
Commending the team’s achievement, Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai Region, said: “This milestone reflects the very essence of Apollo Hospital’s commitment — combining compassion with clinical excellence to deliver life-saving outcomes even in the most complex cases. The successful treatment of India’s youngest thyroid cancer patient demonstrates the strength of our paediatric specialty programs and our dedication to bringing the highest standards of care to every child and family who walks through our doors.”
This groundbreaking case stands as a beacon of hope in paediatric cancer care, reaffirming Apollo Children’s Hospital’s position at the forefront of advanced medical innovation and child-centric healthcare excellence in India.
