A Successful Tongue Reconstruction Surgery Performed At Apollo Spectra Hospital, Pune

The cases of tongue cancer are increasing owing to the consumption of tobacco products. In view of it, doctors at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Pune constructed a new tongue for a patient who lost his tongue due to tongue cancer. This new tongue was created from the person’s pectoral muscle present in the chest.

A team consisting of Dr Prafulla Pradhan, General, and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Dr Kamlesh Bokil, Oncology Surgeon, and Dr Amit Mule, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon carried out this complex but successful tongue reconstruction surgery.

Sudhir Kamble (56) living in Sangli district of Maharashtra. A few months ago, his tongue was injured. As the wound was small, the patient did not pay much attention to it. But as the wound gradually worsened, he showed it to a local doctor and didn’t get that much-needed relief.  However, nothing mattered. He could not open his mouth due to increasing ulcers associated with bleeding and wounds in his mouth. He was having trouble even eating. However, the patient was referred to Apollo Spectra Hospital in Pune for further treatment.

General and laparoscopic surgeon Dr. Prafulla Pradhan started his treatment. A biopsy test revealed that the patient had tongue cancer. After the MRI test, it was necessary to remove the tongue as the cancer had spread to the entire tongue. Accordingly, the doctor decided to perform surgery. By doing a total glossectomy, the patient’s tongue was removed and a new one was created.

Dr Prafulla Pradhan, General, and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Pune said, “On arrival when? How was the condition of the patient? In such a situation, a biopsy test was done to find out the exact cause of the injury in the mouth.

In this test report, the patient was diagnosed with tongue cancer. Cancer started on the right side of the tongue and spread to the left side. In such a situation, surgical removal of the tongue was the only option. Accordingly, with the permission of the relatives, the tongue was removed through total glossectomy surgery. Apart from this, cancerous tumors were also removed from the neck. Glossectomy is a surgical procedure. If the cancer of the tongue develops, this surgery is performed to remove the tongue and create a new tongue in its place. This can cause the patient to swallow food. Apart from this, they don’t have trouble even speaking.

Dr Kamlesh Bokil, Oncology Surgeon, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Pune said, “The cases of oral cancer are surging now. Due to the consumption of tobacco products, more and more patients with mouth cancer, especially tongue cancer, are being detected. Tongue cancer is more common in men between the ages of 30 and 50. Mouth and tongue cancer can be avoided if people stay away from cigarettes, gutkha, mawa, and other tobacco products.”

“Relatives of the patient said that we were scared when we came to know about the cancer of the tongue. He could not even open his mouth due to cancer. Doctors at Apollo Spectra Hospital gave reassurance to such a situation. He gave us complete information about the treatment. Due to the efforts of doctors, Sudhir has got a new life. Patients will now be able to speak again as a new tongue is created. Looking at Sudhir, one does not think that he had cancer. This is possible only due to the efforts of doctors,” concluded the patient Relative Babasaheb Kamble.