RESECTION OF A GIANT AGGRESSIVE ANGIOMYXOMA IN THE PHILIPPINES

Introduction. Medicine for Humanity is a multidisciplinary team of hea lth care professionals, travelling to developing areas throughout the world on medical missions. The following is one of many technically ch allenging and unique cases presented for treatment. Case. A 38-year-ol d woman gradually developed a giant mass arising from the right labium majus, extending into the retroperitoneum, Surgical resection was per formed by abdominal and perineal teams. Intraoperative blood loss was approximately 10,000 mi, 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 weig hed 19.8 kg, Final histology confirmed an aggressive angiomyxoma, Conc lusion. This patient had the largest, histologically confirmed, aggres sive angiomyxoma described to date. The surgical management of this ca se followed the principles in treating hemorrhagic shock, but required modifications based on availability of resources in Cebu City, Philip pines. (C) 1998 Academic Press.