In a landmark achievement for Indian and Asian surgical history, a team of urologists at ACE Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, successfully removed a massive 23 cm adrenal cyst from a 58-year-old female patient using 3D laparoscopic surgery—a procedure hailed as the largest adrenal cyst removal of its kind in Asia.

The patient, a 58-year-old woman from abroad, had been suffering from persistent abdominal pain, back discomfort, and vomiting for several months. After initial misdiagnoses elsewhere, she reached ACE Hospital, Pune, where advanced diagnostics revealed a huge 15 cm cyst growing from her right adrenal gland, dangerously pushing other abdominal organs aside.

A repeat scan showed the cyst had expanded to a staggering 23 cm, occupying over 50% of her abdominal cavity—raising the urgency for a complex surgical solution.

Led by Dr. Suresh B. Patankar, a senior urologist and laparoscopic surgery expert, the surgical team included Dr. Gururaj R. Padasalagi, Dr. Mayur Narkhede, and Dr. Kashinath Thakare. They opted for a minimally invasive 3D laparoscopic approach—a decision that set this case apart globally.

“This was a technically demanding surgery, not just due to the tumor’s size, but also the proximity to major blood vessels and the kidney,” said Dr. Patankar.

Over a span of 4.5 hours, the team carefully:

• Inserted laparoscopic tools through small abdominal incisions.
• Drained three litres of fluid from the cyst.
• Successfully removed the entire 23 cm cystic tumor without harming the adrenal gland or nearby organs.

The use of 3D laparoscopy provided enhanced depth perception and precision, which was crucial given the tumor’s complexity and location.

• The case has been officially recognized by the Limca Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records as the largest adrenal cyst ever removed using laparoscopic surgery in Asia.
• Previously, the largest reported laparoscopic adrenal cyst removal in India measured 21 cm. This 23 cm tumor now sets a new benchmark.

The patient recovered rapidly and was discharged within four days of the surgery. Follow-up scans showed no complications or residual growth, and she resumed her normal life within weeks.

This historic surgery marks a turning point in how complex adrenal tumors can be managed:

• Avoiding open surgery means less pain, faster recovery, and fewer complications.
• Demonstrates that world-class medical innovation is thriving beyond metro hospitals—right in Pune.

Dr. Patankar and his team plan to use this surgery as a teaching case for training future urologists and laparoscopic surgeons, while encouraging the adoption of 3D laparoscopic technology in similar complex tumor cases.

This remarkable achievement places Pune on the map of global surgical innovation—and proves that with the right expertise and vision, even the most daunting medical challenges can be conquered with grace and precision.