For the first time, Nghe An General Hospital treated a parasitic nest in the spinal cord causing paralysis.

(Baonghean.vn) - His body became increasingly pale, tired, continuously losing weight, and his legs gradually became paralyzed. Mr. Nguyen Duy Thanh (53 years old, Thanh Chuong) had to be hospitalized for treatment with an initial diagnosis of a large tumor in the spinal cord. However, after surgery, the tumor was pathologically examined and determined to be a very large parasite nest.

In mid-June 2015, patient Nguyen Duy Thanh was admitted to the hospital with an initial diagnosis of paralysis of both lower limbs, severe back and leg pain, muscle atrophy; seizures suspected to be due to neurological disease. However, after taking an MRI, doctors discovered a large tumor, 9 cm in size, extending from the L1 to L3 vertebrae, occupying space and causing complete narrowing of the spinal canal. The Department of Spinal Neurosurgery - Nghe An General Hospital decided to perform microsurgery to remove the tumor and fix the spine.

Doctor Hoang Kim Tuan checked patient Thanh's health before transferring him to the Central Malaria - Parasite - Entomology Hospital.

“During the surgery, when opening the spinal dura, we discovered a large tumor invading the spinal nerve tissue, with a soft density and a milky white color like bean curd. The tumor tissue was fragmented and located in a dangerous location. If not careful, it could cause the patient to be paralyzed for life and unable to recover motor function. After pathological anatomy, we determined that patient Thanh's tumor was a large parasite nest. This is the first time Nghe An General Hospital has received treatment for such a rare case,” said Master, Doctor Hoang Kim Tuan, Deputy Head of the Department of Spinal Neurosurgery.

After the surgery to remove the parasite, patient Thanh's pain has subsided, but he is still undergoing rehabilitation exercises. Currently, after a re-examination, it is determined that the patient's surgical wound is stable. Nghe An General Hospital is contacting the Central Institute of Malaria - Parasitology - Entomology to clearly identify the specific type of parasite and have a thorough treatment regimen.

Hoang Yen