Resection of a giant aggressive angiomyxoma in the Philippines.

INTRODUCTION

Medicine for Humanity is a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, travelling to developing areas throughout the world on medical missions. The following is one of many technically challenging and unique cases presented for treatment.

CASE: A 38-year-old woman gradually developed a giant mass arising from the right labium majus, extending into the retroperitoneum. Surgical resection was performed by abdominal and perineal teams. Intraoperative blood loss was approximately 10,000 ml, requiring 18 units of whole blood transfusion-including 6 units acutely donated by members of the surgical team. A "pack and go back" technique was used for hemostasis. The tumor weighed 19.8 kg. Final histology confirmed an aggressive angiomyxoma.

CONCLUSION

This patient had the largest, histologically confirmed, aggressive angiomyxoma described to date. The surgical management of this case followed the principles in treating hemorrhagic shock, but required modifications based on availability of resources in Cebu City, Philippines.