Mumbai doctors have successfully performed a complex, high-risk, four-hour brain tumour surgery on a three-month-old infant weighing just 5.6 kg, giving the child a second chance at life.
The infant had been diagnosed with a giant posterior fossa brain tumour, a rare and life-threatening condition at such a young age. With timely intervention, the baby has recovered well and was discharged in stable condition, bringing immense relief and joy to the family. The surgery was led by Dr Abhishek Nadkarni, consultant neurosurgeon, along with DrSheena Ali, consultant neurosurgeon, and the paediatric neurosurgery team at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children.
The parents, residents of Mumbai, became concerned when their previously active baby, suddenly became unusually quiet and lethargic on March 10, with reduced movement and responsiveness. As the child’s condition worsened, they sought urgent medical attention and were referred to the city hospital for advanced care.
Dr Nadkarni said, “The baby was born on December 9 in 2025. On arrival at our emergency department on the night of March 12, the infant had altered consciousness and lethargy for two days. Examination revealed a bulging fontanelle and an increased head circumference of 43 cm, both signs of raised pressure inside the brain. CT and MRI scans done prior to referral showed a large posterior fossa tumour measuring approximately 6 × 5 × 5 cm, nearly the size of a tennis ball. The tumour was blocking the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to hydrocephalus, a life-threatening condition requiring urgent treatment.”
Dr Nadkarni further added, “The tumour was located along the floor of the fourth ventricle, compressing the brainstem, which controls vital functions such as breathing, swallowing, and consciousness. Given the tumour size and the baby’s age and weight, this was an extremely high-risk surgery. The infant’s total blood volume was less than 500 ml, and the tumour was highly vascular, increasing the risk of significant intraoperative blood loss. After detailed counselling, the family chose to proceed with surgery.”
The surgery was performed on March 13 and lasted nearly four hours. The team successfully achieved complete tumour removal, and importantly, the child did not develop any new neurological deficits after surgery, an encouraging outcome in such a complex case. The baby was discharged on 6-5-26.
Histopathological examination confirmed the tumour to be an immature teratoma, a rare type of non-germinomatous germ cell tumour. These tumours typically occur in midline brain regions such as the pineal or suprasellar areas and usually present later in childhood or adolescence. Occurrence in the posterior fossa of a 3-month-old infant is extremely uncommon, making this case particularly rare and challenging. The child will continue further treatment under the paediatric oncology team, including planned chemotherapy as part of comprehensive care.
The baby’s mother said, “We were extremely scared when we saw our baby becoming less active and unwell. Everything happened very suddenly.”
“The doctors at the hospital explained the situation patiently and supported us at every step. Seeing our baby recover now feels like a miracle. We are deeply grateful to the entire team for saving our child’s life,” the father added.
Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, added, “Managing such a complex brain tumour in a very young infant is both medically and emotionally challenging. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis, specialised paediatric neurosurgical expertise, and strong intensive care support.”
