US surgeon successfully removes giant face tumours

Nguyen Hoang Thien An, 18, of southern Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and Le Hoang Em, 31, of southern Dong Thap province, had huge growths since a very young age that deformed their lips and noses.

The surgeries were performed at the France-Vietnam Hospital on July 30-31. The surgeries were shown on screens outside for doctors at the hospital and elsewhere to watch.

An got the tumour when she was seven months old. It grew rapidly, gradually distorting her nose, eyes, and lips from their original position. Her family could not afford treatment and the tumour kept growing.

In 2007, when she was 12, her family took her to Tien Giang Hospital for surgery. But after the surgery the tumour returned and again grew rapidly. A year later she was admitted to the HCM City Oncology Hospital where doctors decided to remove the tumour and reconstruct her face.

After removing the tumour they scheduled the facial reconstruction for six months later. But then the tumour again returned and grew faster than ever.

Em got the tumour soon after birth. His parents too could not afford treatment but hoped instead the tumour would go away on its own. It merely grew bigger and often bled.

His family took him to several hospitals but mostly met with refusal.

Tran Thi Thu, Em’s mother, said she was in tears at seeing him after the surgery. “I took him to several hospitals since birth but the tumour could not be removed. His illness captured the American doctor’s attention through the media.”

Last year, McKinnon shot to fame after successfully removing a 90kg tumour from 32-year-old Nguyen Duy Hai of Viet Nam’s resort city of Da Lat. 

Doctor McKay McKinnon and patient Nguyen Duy Hai after surgery