A Belarusian Woman Chose the National Medical Research Radiological Centre for Treatment: A Unique Case of Tumor Removal the Size of a Full-Term Fetus

A 54-year-old woman named Yulia (name changed) from Belarus sought help at the Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Gynecology of the N.A. Lopatkin Research Institute of Urology — a branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of Russia. A midwife with many years of experience, she was used to caring for others, but troubling symptoms with her own health made her deeply concerned. Her abdomen rapidly enlarged, she experienced dragging pain, lost her appetite, and began to lose weight. Her intuition and clinical knowledge left no doubt something serious was going on.

Tests conducted in her home country revealed a large mass in her pelvis. However, Yulia chose to undergo treatment only in Russia — specifically at the National Medical Research Radiological Centre. «Yulia arrived fully confident that she would receive help here. According to patient reviews, she knew we take on even the most complex cases», said oncologist Angelina Baranova from the department.

Comprehensive diagnostics confirmed the suspicion: the woman had an extremely rare tumor — a massive formation measuring up to 40 centimeters in length. It occupied nearly the entire abdominal and pelvic cavity, displacing and compressing surrounding organs — the intestines, bladder, and uterus. Based on its clinical presentation and anatomical position, the tumor resembled a full-term pregnancy in size.

«Yulia’s body had compensated for the tumor’s growth over time, which helped avoid an acute crisis, but also made the surgery much more complex», noted Baranova. «With this level of organ compression, any intervention carries a high risk of complications».

The surgery, comparable in complexity to top-tier oncogynecology procedures, required the most experienced specialists. It was performed by the department head Anatoly Gritsay, a surgeon with unique expertise in reconstructive oncogynecology assisted by Angelina Baranova. The operation lasted about 3.5 hours and demanded extreme precision and flawless team coordination.

An urgent histological analysis of the removed mass revealed a borderline tumor — a rare type of growth located between benign and malignant classifications. Given the extent of the lesion, the team decided to expand the surgical scope: the uterus, ovaries, and omentum were also removed.

Despite the high risk, the operation went smoothly and without complications. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the surgeons and anesthesiologists, Yulia recovered quickly and required no additional treatment.

«Yulia continues to be monitored by an oncologist in her hometown», said Angelina Baranova. «There are no signs of recurrence, and she’s feeling well».