The cancer had severely affected the patient’s scalp and skull, requiring extensive surgery and subsequent reconstruction.
Published Aug 20, 2025 | 9:48 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 20, 2025 | 1:01 PM
The patient with the team of doctors at SIMS who performed the surgery. (Supplied)
Synopsis: SIMS Hospital in Chennai successfully treated a young IT professional suffering from Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans, a highly aggressive skin cancer affecting only one to five individuals per million, that spreads to surrounding tissues, muscle, and bone.
In a rare and complex medical procedure, SIMS Hospital in Chennai successfully treated a young IT professional suffering from Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP), a highly aggressive skin cancer affecting only one to five individuals per million, that spreads to surrounding tissues, muscle, and bone.
The cancer had severely affected the patient’s scalp and skull, requiring extensive surgery and subsequent reconstruction. The scalp is now fully covered with stable tissue, though doctors have advised regular follow-up for early detection of recurrence and proper scalp hygiene.
The procedure involved reconstructing the skull in stages using skin grafts, tissue expanders, and final repair with tissue from the patient’s thigh. In addition, a metastatic lung nodule was removed during the course of treatment.
Addressing the media, Dr Krishnamoorthy, Former Director, Plastic Surgery, Institute of Craniofacial, Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery (ICAPS), said the case demanded careful planning at every step, from brain protection to skull repair and scalp reconstruction.
Dr Shyamnath Krishna Pandian K, Consultant, Plastic Surgery, ICAPS, said the greatest challenge was balancing tumour clearance with skull reconstruction, given that the tumour was dangerously close to the brain.
Commenting on the achievement, Dr Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman, SIMS Hospital, described the case as a landmark for the hospital, praising the team’s surgical skill, coordination, and endurance.
A 33-year-old man who had undergone three failed surgeries for the rare skin cancer elsewhere has been given a new lease of life after SIMS Hospital, Chennai. The doctors carried out a series of complex, multi-disciplinary procedures to remove the cancer, reconstruct his skull and scalp, and restore function and appearance.
Speaking to South First, Dr Shyamnath Krishna said the patient was diagnosed with recurrent Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) when he first came to SIMS in 2022.
“The tumour had recurred on his forehead and scalp, and after excision, we were left with a large defect exposing the brain. Neurosurgeons recreated the dura using an artificial patch, while maxillofacial surgeons reconstructed the skull with native bone, titanium mesh, and bone cement. The surgery lasted nearly eight hours,” he explained.
“Once the skull was rebuilt, surgeons used a transposition flap from the hair-bearing occipital and parietal region to cover the defect, along with skin grafting. Later, the patient also underwent removal of a metastatic lung nodule with the help of cardiac surgeons. By 2023, he was declared disease-free. However, the extensive surgeries had left him with scarring and patches of baldness, which he lived with for two to three months before starting the next surgery.”
“We used the latest technology, like a tissue expander, essentially a silicon bag placed under the scalp, to gradually stretch hair-bearing tissue over three months. This allowed us to resurface the bald area. We then readjusted the forehead flap and covered the defect with tissue from the thigh,” Dr Shyamnath said.
The second stage of reconstruction took another six hours, followed by minor corrective procedures. Today, the patient remains cancer-free and is “not only healthy but also happy with the rehabilitation he has received,” the surgeon added.
Dr Shyamnath emphasised that while early detection is important, aggressive cancers like DFSP require coordinated, multi-speciality intervention to achieve both disease control and functional recovery.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
