Vietnamese doctors successfully remove ‘turtle shell’ on 10-year-old girl’s back

Dao Trung Hieu, the hospital vice director, said Tran Thi Ngoc Tham of Soc Trang Province, who suffers from congenital melanocytic nevus, has recovered several hours after the surgery from 10:20 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.

“The mole weighs 1.05 kg (2.2 lbs) and measures 22 cm (8.7 inches) in diameter," he said. After it was removed, doctors covered the area with skin grafted from her thigh, he said.

Six doctors and 5 medical workers involved in the surgery, he said.

The hospital is supporting the poor patient with hospital fees and food.

Tham’s mother, Thach Thi Da Ni, 34, said she was born with the birthmark measuring the size of “a mandarin orange”, and it has been growing over the years.

Tham quit school after being repeatedly teased by others as the “turtle-shell girl” but Ni has no money for her treatment, she said.

Tham has a 12-year-old brother who does not have congenital abnormality.