Mohali, June 16, 2025:
A 63-year-old woman suffering from a rare and advanced abdominal cancer is successfully treated by using Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), a highly specialized cancer treatment procedure.
The patient had been experiencing persistent abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss for several months.
Further investigations, including CT scans and PET-CT imaging, revealed the presence of a mucinous neoplasm originating from the appendix, along with extensive tumor deposits within the abdominal cavity, indicating advanced-stage cancer.
The complex procedure was performed at Fortis by a multidisciplinary team led by surgical oncology specialists. During the surgery, doctors removed all visible cancerous tissue from the abdominal cavity through Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS). This was followed by HIPEC, in which heated chemotherapy is circulated directly within the abdomen to destroy microscopic cancer cells that may remain after surgery.
According to the Dr Jitender Rohila Oncologyist told , the surgery lasted approximately nine hours, followed by 90 minutes of HIPEC treatment. The procedure involved removal of tumor deposits from multiple abdominal organs and sections of the intestine. The cost of this is Rs 3lakh and this is one time, he added.
Following surgery, the patient recovered steadily and was discharged from the hospital ten days later. She has since resumed her normal daily activities and is reported to be in good health.
CRS-HIPEC is considered the gold-standard treatment for selected patients with cancers that spread within the abdominal cavity. The procedure combines extensive tumor-removal surgery with heated chemotherapy administered directly into the abdomen. This approach allows higher concentrations of chemotherapy to target cancer cells while minimizing exposure to the rest of the body.
The treatment is commonly used for cancers involving the appendix, colon, rectum, ovaries, and peritoneum, including conditions such as pseudomyxoma peritonei, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, and primary peritoneal cancers.
Medical experts emphasized that CRS-HIPEC is a major surgical undertaking requiring highly trained surgical oncologists, advanced intensive care support, and specialized postoperative management to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
The Fortis team stated that its dedicated Peritoneal Surface Oncology program offers advanced procedures such as HIPEC and Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC), supported by internationally trained surgeons, modern critical care infrastructure, and a multidisciplinary oncology team.
Dr Jitender Rohila Oncologyist said that in Fortis hospital, nearly 50 surgery has been taken place.
The successful treatment highlights the growing availability of advanced cancer care in India and demonstrates how specialized surgical oncology techniques can significantly improve outcomes for patients with complex abdominal cancers.
