Khaberni - A medical team from the Saudi Center for Radiation Therapy at King Abdullah University Hospital succeeded in treating a child with a rare tumor known as "Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma."
Dr. Laith Al-Samhouri, who supervised the treatment, said the child (age 3) has been suffering from Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome since birth, a dangerous condition characterized by a severe reduction in platelet count and blood clotting disorders.
He added that a multidisciplinary medical team monitored his condition and subjected him to various globally recognized treatment protocols, then moved him to radiation therapy as a final solution, after consultations between team members.
He explained that MRI images revealed the presence of a tissue mass in the posterior part of the right lower limb, consistent with the diagnosis of Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, and it was decided to treat it using reduced doses of radiation, spread over four sessions daily, under general anesthesia.
He noted a clear clinical improvement in swelling and pain, and no side effects associated with radiation therapy were observed, indicating that the same treatment protocol could be resorted to if the swelling reoccurs in the future.
The general director of King Abdullah University Hospital, Dr. Hassan Al-Balas, stated that the hospital focuses on providing infrastructure and advanced technologies to enable medical staff to provide optimal care that keeps pace with scientific advancements, expressing pride in these achievements.
Dr. Asem Al-Qudah, director of the medical department, said that such success in treating some rare and severe diseases represents a link in a chain of similar successes distinguished by the hospital's doctors in all specialties, indicating the high level of training and outstanding professional competence of the doctors.
Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is a rare and benign vascular tumor, typically appearing in the first few years of a child's life, characterized by its aggressive local nature, and may be associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome which can be life-threatening.
The global incidence rate is estimated at about 0.07 cases per 100,000 children annually, with fewer than 500 cases documented globally in the medical literature.
