India’s first kidney Auto-Transplant held for paediatric cancer in Uzbek Boy

In a ground-breaking medical achievement, Doctors at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, have successfully performed India’s first treatment of Bilateral Wilms Tumour (nephroblastoma), a rare and complex form of paediatric kidney cancer in a 6-year-old boy from Uzbekistan.

The boy’s condition was critical, with tumours affecting both kidneys, endangering his life. Despite undergoing chemotherapy in his home country, his chances of survival remained uncertain, prompting his parents to seek advanced treatment options in India. The child was brought to Fortis Escorts, Okhla, where a skilled team of doctors, led by Dr Paresh Jain, Director of Urology & Kidney Transplant , performed a highly intricate kidney auto-transplant procedure. The surgery, which lasted eight hours, was successful, and the boy recovered swiftly without any complications, following post-surgery observation.

Upon the child’s admission to the hospital, a comprehensive assessment revealed the presence of tumours in both kidneys. However, the left kidney was significantly affected by cancer, making it unsuitable for complete tumour removal without risking damage to the kidney itself. Additionally, the cancer had caused enlargement of the lymph nodes, which are critical to the body’s immune system. To address this, the medical team decided to perform a laparoscopic right partial nephrectomy (Nephron-Sparing Surgery – NSS) to remove the affected portion of the right kidney in August 2024. During this procedure, the right-sided lymph nodes, as well as the enlarged left-sided lymph node, were carefully removed. A biopsy of the left kidney was also performed within the same laparoscopic session, effectively minimizing the need for multiple surgeries.

Giving details of the case, Dr Paresh Jain, Director of Urology & Kidney Transplant, Fortis Escorts, Okhla, New Delhi said, “This medical achievement is especially noteworthy, as only 16 similar cases have been documented worldwide, with none reported previously in India. Wilms tumour, usually diagnosed in children aged 3-4 years, present significant challenges due to its rarity and complexity. Its advanced stage poses a unique challenge because it can be bilateral, affecting both the kidneys and if not treated promptly, it can become life-threatening.”

“Globally, most similar procedures are not performed laparoscopically and typically involve two separate surgical teams-one for paediatric oncosurgery and another for kidney transplantation. However, in this case, both complex procedures were successfully carried out by a single specialized team, highlighting the team’s exceptional surgical expertise and coordination. The significance of this particular surgery was to avoid Maternal Kidney Donation: The procedure spared the child’s mother from donating a kidney, preserving her health and kidney function; Eliminated Lifelong Immunosuppression: By preserving the child’s own kidney, the need for lifelong immunosuppressive medications—typically required after transplants—was completely avoided. These medications could have caused harmful side effects and increased infection risk, reduced financial burden.”