A 15-year-old girl in Hainan, in the prime of her life, was left in a critical condition after failing to receive effective treatment for a malignant mediastinal tumor in multiple places both inside and outside the province.
After receiving "implantation" radiotherapy in the first ward of the radiotherapy department at Hainan Cancer Hospital, her tumor gradually disappeared, and pathological examination showed "complete remission" - no cancer cells were found.
This result completely exceeded the treatment expectations, and even the in-house experts who participated in the consultation exclaimed "I cant believe it".
A teenage girls chest tumor is "out of control"
In early 2024, Mengmeng (pseudonym), a 15-year-old girl from Haikou, was diagnosed with mediastinal lymphoepithelial carcinoma due to chest pain. Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is typically associated with epithelial cells in the nasopharynx and is rarely found in the mediastinum. It is rarely documented in medical literature and presents significant treatment challenges.
Due to the particularly large size of the tumor at that time, the opportunity for surgery was lost.
Afterwards, Meng Meng visited multiple hospitals both inside and outside the province, undergoing chemotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. However, after more than half a year of continuous treatment, the tumor remained "stationary," showing no response to medication, and even grew rapidly from the initial 5 centimeters to over 12 centimeters.
The tumor is compressing the lungs and chest cavity, leading to severe impairment of the patients cardiopulmonary function. Symptoms are worsening, and even breathing becomes difficult.
At this moment, Mengmengs life was hanging by a thread.
"Transplantation" innovative treatment brings a turning point in life
Later, Mengmeng was transferred to the radiotherapy department of the first ward at Hainan Cancer Hospital for treatment.
The department promptly initiated an MDT (multidisciplinary team) consultation for Mengmeng. Due to the tumors resistance to almost all previous drug treatments, the experts unanimously recommended "attempting radiotherapy" after discussion.
(Wang Weifengs team discussing treatment options)
Wang Weifeng, the head of the first ward in the radiotherapy department, and team expert Wu Daping, decided to innovatively adopt the "implantation" radiotherapy technique for Mengmengs condition, implementing individualized radiation therapy for the patient.
"Implantation" radiotherapy, also known as "brachytherapy" technique, involves inserting a radioactive source directly into the tumor lesion to kill cancer cells using radiation.
Wang Weifeng introduced that the "implantation" radiotherapy technology has three major advantages:
I. Acting directly on tumors, it is highly precise;
II. it is safe, causing little damage to surrounding normal tissues;
III. High efficiency, large dosage, and close proximity result in higher tumor eradication efficiency
Guided by professional equipment, the expert team will insert needle-like "radiotherapy needles" directly into the tumor through the patients chest muscles, and then activate the equipment to perform radiation exposure.
After undergoing six rounds of "implantation" radiotherapy, the patients condition improved rapidly.
For tumors "hidden" behind the sternum, which cannot undergo "implantation" radiotherapy, experts utilize the hospitals advanced radiotherapy equipment to perform stereotactic external beam radiotherapy, combined with immunotherapy drugs.
After undergoing multiple courses of treatment lasting over half a year, a follow-up examination in early July revealed that the tumor had shrunk to approximately 3 centimeters, and the chest lesion had disappeared, presenting a new opportunity for surgical treatment.
At the end of July, a team of experts from the Thoracic Surgery Ward I of the hospital successfully removed Mengmengs mediastinal tumor, and the postoperative pathological examination met the "clinical cure" standard of complete pathological remission.
In early August, when the hospital conducted another MDT discussion on this case, even the hospitals experts expressed that "such a treatment outcome is simply unbelievable".
Professor Wang Ping, the specially-appointed chief radiotherapy expert of the hospital and former President of Tianjin Cancer Hospital, introduced that the hospital possesses internationally cutting-edge radiotherapy equipment such as the "CyberKnife", and has developed a series of "implantation" radiotherapy techniques for cervical cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, etc., which have garnered significant attention and recognition from peers.
Expert Introduction
Wang Weifeng
Deputy Director of Radiotherapy Ward 1 (in charge)
Medical expertise
Proficient in precise radiotherapy for head and neck malignant tumors as well as stereotactic radiotherapy for tumors of various solid organs, with profound expertise in nasopharyngeal cancer and head and neck cancer. The overall survival rate of nasopharyngeal cancer patients treated by our team is comparable to that of domestic head radiotherapy centers. Skilled in formulating comprehensive treatment plans and managing the entire treatment process for head and neck cancer, as well as in developing and planning comprehensive treatment strategies for thoracic and digestive system tumors, and in formulating comprehensive treatment plans for various malignant tumors.
Clinic Hours
Every Wednesday morning
Expert Introduction
Wu Daping
Deputy Chief Physician of Radiotherapy Ward 1
Medical expertise
She is skilled in the comprehensive treatment of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for malignant tumors such as gynecological tumors, head and neck malignant tumors, and digestive tract tumors. She has profound expertise in the radiotherapy of gynecological malignant tumors, nasopharyngeal cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, rectal cancer, and other malignant tumors, as well as in the internal radiation therapy of gynecological tumors. Additionally, she excels in clinical procedures such as puncture biopsy of solid organ tumors and implantable port placement.
Clinic Hours
Every Tuesday and Friday afternoon
Text | Liang Shan