13.05.2026 16:41
A 25-centimeter, 3-kilogram giant tumor growing on the neck of 8-year-old Fatma Yaman in Eskişehir was removed in a 6.5-hour operation. Doctors stated that the case, recorded as the largest known neck tumor in child patients worldwide, has entered medical literature.
An 8-year-old girl named Fatma Yaman in Eskisehir had a massive tumor that had been growing on her neck since she was 3 years old and reached 3 kilograms, successfully removed in a critical 6.5-hour surgery at Eskisehir City Hospital. Doctors stated that the 25-centimeter mass is the largest known neck tumor in pediatric patients in the world.
THEY SAID 'SHE WOULD STAY ON THE TABLE'
Orhan and Kubra Yaman, a couple living in Gaziantep, noticed the mass on their daughter Fatma's neck in 2023. Due to the rapidly growing tumor, the family applied to many hospitals, including abroad. However, surgery could not be performed because it was deemed risky.
Father Orhan Yaman described their experience as follows: 'Since 2023, we have visited many hospitals, including abroad. Most of the responses were that she would stay on the table. We had very difficult times. Eskisehir City Hospital did its best for my daughter.'
CRITICAL 6.5-HOUR OPERATION
For Fatma Yaman, an operation was planned at Eskisehir City Hospital by a team consisting of cardiovascular surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, and anesthesia specialists. In the approximately 6.5-hour surgery, the 3-kilogram tumor that posed a life-threatening risk on the little girl's neck was successfully removed. After the operation, Fatma was kept under observation in intensive care for 15 days, then transferred to the ward and discharged.
LARGEST KNOWN CHILDHOOD NECK TUMOR IN THE WORLD
Op. Dr. Abdulkadir Calavul from the Plastic Surgery Service of Eskisehir City Hospital, who performed the surgery, announced that the mass has entered the medical literature. Calavul stated that when the patient arrived at the hospital, she weighed only 10 kilograms, and 3 kilograms of that was the tumor, and said: 'The mass on the patient's neck was severely compressing her carotid artery, lung, and back area. There was approximately 80 degrees of curvature in her neck. She had serious problems with eating and breathing.'
Calavul, noting that the mass was approximately 25x20 centimeters in size, said, 'There are cases around 20-22 centimeters in the literature, but the tumor in our patient was 25 centimeters. We currently consider it to be the largest known neck tumor in pediatric patients in the world.'