Sarcoma is a group of rare cancers with a very high malignancy rate, including bone cancer and soft tissue cancer, both of which require complex diagnostic and treatment processes. Soon, patients in Vietnam will have a new reputable address for comprehensive sarcoma treatment, evaluated by the Cleveland Clinic (USA)
"Golden hands" on par with the world in bone cancer surgery
Nguyễn Mạnh Tuấn, a 22-year-old student in Hanoi, is packing up to prepare for discharge. Few people know that just four days ago, this student completed a complex 12-hour surgery to remove a bone tumor.
Previously, Tuấn had been living with a tumor in his left tibia since February, but after two biopsies, the results were benign bone tumors. It wasn't until the third biopsy that doctors determined the cancer was at stage IIB, which is very serious, as the tumor had invaded the soft tissue. After two exhausting rounds of chemotherapy, Tuấn's family heard about the superior limb-preserving method at Vinmec Hospital and decided to transfer him there for examination.
Doctors at Vinmec said that for cases like Tuấn's, where the disease has progressed significantly, amputation is often necessary, affecting quality of life, aesthetics, and the future, and can even be life-threatening.
Bone sarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma are two types of cancer that often occur in adolescence with very vague early symptoms, making them difficult to detect and often mistaken for inflammation, muscle, or bone pain. This group of cancers requires various tests for accurate diagnosis, and patients need to be examined at centers with sufficient expertise, capacity, and specialized equipment for sarcoma diagnosis and treatment.
Therefore, after examination and consultation with the medical council, ThS.BSCKII Nguyễn Trần Quang Sáng – Head of the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Surgery Department – indicated surgery to remove the tumor, replace the joint with 3D-printed materials to completely preserve Tuấn's limb, combined with radiotherapy and subsequent rehabilitation.
Dr. Sáng stated that this was an extremely complex surgery because it involved performing three major techniques in a single operation, requiring specialized technical skills and high-tech equipment, along with close coordination between surgical teams, as surgical capability is one of the pillars of bone cancer treatment.
First, the surgery involved resecting the upper segment of the tibia containing the tumor to remove the entire cancerous mass from the patient, which usually takes about 2-3 hours. Next, the task was to reconstruct the bone defect using artificial materials with 3D printing technology, a high-tech application used at Vinmec.
However, after removing the invasive soft tissue, a large defect of about 8-10 cm in the tibia remained. Therefore, the final step of the surgery was to transfer an outer thigh flap and fascia to cover the soft tissue in the lower leg. "If a detailed surgical plan and high-tech 3D printing technology, along with soft tissue coverage, were not promptly implemented, the patient would face the risk of amputation," Dr. Sáng noted.
The special aspect of this surgery was that it was performed under the direct observation of experienced orthopedic experts from Cleveland Clinic (USA). Direct observation is one of the methods for experts to evaluate Vinmec's diagnostic and surgical capabilities.
"Vinmec has developed a program focused on bone cancer to promote a multidisciplinary approach – a very important approach in treating this disease. This is a solid foundation for providing quality care for patients. Vinmec's strengths lie in its specialized personnel and comprehensive program involving multiple specialties such as surgery, oncology, and radiotherapy," said Dr. Dale Shepard, Co-Director of the Sarcoma Program at Cleveland Clinic. Currently, Cleveland Clinic is rigorously evaluating Vinmec's capabilities and expertise to ensure that Vinmec meets the necessary international standards for sarcoma treatment.
A breakthrough in sarcoma treatment in Vietnam
Currently, in Vietnam, there is only a focus on bone sarcoma, while soft tissue cancer is not fully recognized and understood in the community and even among medical professionals. Notably, treating soft tissue cancer is more complex than bone cancer in terms of diagnostic organization and equipment.
Therefore, over the years, Vinmec has built important foundations in human resources and equipment to move towards establishing the first comprehensive Sarcoma Center in Vietnam, pioneering in the treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma. "Vinmec has been preparing for many years in terms of human strategy, investment in equipment and resources, and communication channels for the community and medical professionals to understand the importance of sarcoma. Because bone and soft tissue cancer are rare diseases with a very high malignancy rate, if detected late, the treatment effectiveness is very poor," said Prof. Dr. Trần Trung Dũng - Director of the Northern Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center - Vinmec Health System.
Specifically, experts from Cleveland Clinic will accompany Vinmec throughout the development of the center, supporting evaluation, consultation, and coordination in applying Cleveland Clinic's international standards in expertise and operation to achieve high treatment effectiveness right in Vietnam.
Particularly, Vinmec and Cleveland Clinic doctors will continuously exchange expertise, update new techniques, and discuss clinical cases. For difficult cases received at Vinmec, patients can be consulted by Cleveland Clinic experts to provide accurate diagnoses and determine the optimal treatment regimen.
"With the establishment of the Sarcoma Center, all diagnostic and treatment needs of patients will be comprehensively and thoroughly addressed according to standardized, internationalized, and personalized models," Prof. Trung Dũng shared. According to Prof. Dũng, each patient will have a fully tailored diagnostic and treatment plan, including nutrition, care, and exercise. The goal of the program is to help Vietnamese patients enjoy international standard treatment values by an internationalized team following a personalized approach.
It is expected that next year, Vinmec's Sarcoma Center will be officially established after being evaluated, appraised, and meeting the criteria recommended by Cleveland Clinic. "We are very impressed with the dedication and investment of Vingroup and Vinmec for patients with this rare cancer across Vietnam. Sarcoma patients often do not receive optimal treatment. Vinmec's determination to establish a comprehensive program and mobilize many resources to support patients with this rare disease is very significant," said Dr. Nathan Mesko - Co-Director of the Sarcoma Center, Cleveland Clinic. The establishment of the Sarcoma Center marks groundbreaking innovations in cancer treatment in Vietnam.
