Mumbai Medical Miracle: 74-Year-Old Man Survives Rare Heart Tumour With Advanced Surgery

Mumbai: A 74-year-old man from Mumbai, who was diagnosed with a lemon-sized tumour (5x5 cm) inside his heart along with severe artery blockage after a routine ECG, has been given a new lease of life following surgery at a Mumbai-based private hospital. Using advanced Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS), the surgical team successfully removed the tumour and restored blood flow to the blocked artery on the right side of his chest.

The patient was diagnosed with Left Atrial Myxoma — a rare, non-cancerous tumour located in the left upper chamber of the heart — during a routine echocardiogram. His treating physician, Dr Siddharth Sheth, Senior Cardiologist at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, confirmed that the tumour was occupying nearly 90% of the left atrium.

Further cardiac evaluation revealed an 85–90% blockage in the right coronary artery, a major vessel supplying blood to the heart. Coupled with a long-standing history of uncontrolled diabetes, the patient was at high risk for complications with conventional open-heart surgery, making the case highly complex.

Dr Sheth explained, “Left atrial myxomas are rare because primary heart tumours are extremely uncommon in the general population. The heart’s muscular structure and low cell activity make it an unlikely site for tumours to form. Given his age and pre-existing health condition, including uncontrolled diabetes, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) was chosen instead of the conventional approach, which involves a 15–20 cm incision and sternotomy (cutting through the breastbone).”

Dr Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, Director and Head – CVTS, Heart and Lung Transplant at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, said this was one of the city’s first surgeries where a heart tumour removal and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting were performed simultaneously using a minimally invasive approach.

The approach enabled a significantly faster recovery. Post-surgery, the patient was able to sit up and walk within a few days and was discharged on Day 6, following a smooth post-operative course.