Agartala, Aug 31 — In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at Tripura Medical College (TMC) and Dr. BRAM Teaching Hospital, Agartala, successfully removed a cancerous tumour from the body of a newborn in a complex two-hour surgery. The operation was led by noted paediatric surgeon Dr. Aniruddha Basak and his team.
According to Dr. Basak, the baby was born on August 22 at GB Pant Hospital, Agartala, through a caesarean section. Soon after birth, doctors detected a large tumour on the infant’s waist and referred the case to TMC for advanced care.
“Following diagnostic tests, it was confirmed that the tumour was cancerous and had originated from the spinal cord. In medical terms, it is called a sacrococcygeal tumour — a congenital tumour arising from the tailbone,” Dr. Basak explained. He added that without timely intervention, the tumour could have spread further and threatened the infant’s life.
The surgery was conducted on August 27, just a day after the baby’s admission to TMC. “The tumour had already spread to the anal sphincter and vaginal area, which made the surgery more complicated. It took around two hours to carefully remove it,” Dr. Basak said.
The newborn hails from Radhachara in Kumarghat subdivision. Overwhelmed with relief, the baby’s parents, Swapna Majumder and Babul Debnath, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and staff of TMC for saving their child’s life.
Medical Superintendent of TMC, Dr. Arindam Datta, lauded Dr. Basak and his team for their exemplary effort. Highlighting the institute’s growing capabilities, he said, “A total of 250 paediatric surgeries were performed at TMC in the past year with a success rate of nearly 98 percent.”
Congratulating the surgical team, Dr. Datta wrote on social media: “Congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Aniruddha Basak and the entire team. Let us make TMC a premier institute where the people of Tripura receive proper medical service.”
The successful surgery has brought hope to many families, underscoring TMC’s rising reputation as a centre for advanced paediatric care in the state.