World's largest reported cyst removed from 5-year-old girl in Jaipur

New Delhi: The world's largest paediatric biliary duct cyst (BDC) was removed from a five-year-old girl in Jaipur recently.

The operation took place on November 20 at the government-run JK Lon Hospital and involved the removal of the BDC or choledochal cyst and connecting liver with intestines directly.

Complications in the surgery could have resulted in the cyst bursting or developing cancer.

Dr Ashok Gupta, superintendent of JK Lon Hospital told the Times of India (TOI), "The girl is fine now and recovering after surgery. She will be discharged from the hospital soon."

In November, the girl – a resident of Jaipur – was brought to the hospital complaining of colicky pain in the abdomen and frequent vomiting.

A thorough examination led to her diagnosis of a congenital bile duct anomaly.

"During the initial examination, a large lump was palpable on the right side of the abdomen. Tests revealed a huge dilatation of bile duct, which connects liver with intestines. Usually, the size of bile duct cyst is 2-5 mms. If its size is more than 10mm, it is termed as giant choledochal cyst GCC, Dr Praveen Mathur, a senior professor and paediatric surgery unit head, who conducted the surgery told TOI.

Only 56 cases of GCC have been reported across the world. The largest was reported from Canada in 2016 measuring 17mm.

This paediatric GCC, however, measured 23.5cm. The hospital has sent the case for publication in an international journal.