TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chung Shan Hospital said Wednesday that its medical team removed 2.5 kilograms of diseased tissue during an intestinal surgery.
The hospital said the team spent three hours dissecting the affected tissue, which included nearly 100 lipomatous tumors, benign fatty growths.
A 34-year-old man experiencing prolonged abdominal bloating sought medical attention at another hospital. While a colonoscopy revealed no abnormalities, a physician detected a mass in his lower right abdomen during a physical examination and referred him to Chung Shan Hospital for a CT scan, per CNA.
Wu De-chiang (吳德強), a stomach and intestinal specialist at the hospital, said the man had multiple masses in his abdominal cavity, along with severe constipation. During surgery, the team also discovered severe twisting at the end of the small intestine, which was filled with fatty tumors and stool, Wu said.
Liu Meng-lun (劉孟綸), another stomach and intestinal specialist at the hospital, said this type of tumor typically occurs in the large intestine, making the case unusual.
Liu said patients often underestimate benign intestinal tumors, and many delay seeking medical attention due to a lack of early symptoms. Liu stressed that without proper follow-up, these conditions can lead to serious complications such as intestinal obstruction, bleeding, perforation, or sepsis. He advised that anyone experiencing abdominal bloating, changes in bowel habits, or abdominal pain should seek medical care.
The patient has been discharged and is recovering well with continued follow-up care, the hospital said. Due to the rarity of the case, the medical team plans to compile the details and submit them to an international medical journal, the hospital added.
Chou Jen-wei (周仁偉), an intestinal and stomach doctor at China Medical University Hospital, said that small intestine fatty tumors are more common in middle-aged individuals, though the exact cause is unknown. The most frequent symptom is black, tarry stools, while some patients may experience abdominal pain due to intestinal obstruction.
