Nigerian Patient Undergoes Scarless Surgery to Regain his Vision at Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal

BANGALORE, January 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the Treating Doctors, the Estimated Prevalence of This Disease in the General Population is 1 in 100,000 People

Abaeze Dokubo (Name Changed), 42, travelled all the way from Nigeria to India to get his Nasal Sinus Cancer treated, which he got diagnosed two weeks back. Since the past one year, he had recurring headaches and nasal problems, which he ignored.

Only when he suffered a total loss of vision in his right eye, he finally consulted doctors in his country. A CT and MRI scan showed that it was a tumor of the Ethmoid sinuses located between the eyes. The doctors told him that his recurring sinus problem was due to nasal/paranasal sinus cancer.

In fact, due to the spread of tumour, he suffered from a total loss of vision in his right eye and there were chances wherein he could have lost his vision from the left eye as well. The patient's family consulted all the major hospitals in Nigeria where they were advised to undergo an open surgery for removal of the tumour and removal of the right eye as well and the possibility for loss of left eye vision.

Apprehensive about the same, the patient consulted one of his friends who got his treatment done successfully at Columbia Asia Hospital. On personal recommendation, the patient and his family decided to visit India in order to get his treatment done.

He was just on time when doctors from Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal informed him that there was a possibility of a minimal invasive endoscopic surgery - which could be an effective treatment for the problem. Fully satisfied with the assurance he got from the doctor, he decided to go ahead with the surgery. A team of doctors led by Dr. Santosh Shivaswamy, ENT & Head and Neck Surgeon, along with Dr. Avinash, Neurosurgeon, Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal operated on the patient for 5 hours. Interestingly, with the successful completion of the surgery, he has regained his vision in the right eye - a rare occurrence in the medical world.

"We are glad that we could operate successfully on such a rare case. The case technically was very challenging as the space for the surgery was too small. Since endoscopic sinus surgery is minimally invasive, we could remove the tumour as well. Hence we chose to remove the tumour through the nasal route," said Dr. Santosh Shivaswamy, Consultant, ENT Surgeon, Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal.

"I am so glad that I chose to get my treatment done at Columbia Asia Hospital, Hebbal. I had full confidence that I will get the best treatment. But I was very happy and surprised when my vision also got revived," said Abaeze Dokubo.

Nasal/paranasal sinus cancers are malignant tumors that begin inside of the nose or paranasal cavities around the nose. Men are slightly more likely than women to get this cancer. It usually occurs in patients between 60 and 70 years of age.

About Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt. Ltd.

Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. is one of the first healthcare companies to enter the country through 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) route. www.columbiaasia.com

About Columbia Asia Group of Companies

The Columbia Asia Group is owned by more than 150 private equity companies, fund management organizations and individual investors. The group currently operates seven multi-specialty community hospitals, one referral hospital and one clinic in India. The company also operates hospitals in Malaysia (10), Vietnam (3), and Indonesia (1). The Indian management operations are managed from its office in Bangalore.

Primary Media Contact: Kanchana Prasad, [email protected], 91-9739608780