A surgeon has been diagnosed with the same rare form of cancer as a patient he treated – highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of tumour immunology.
The German surgeon is thought to have 'caught’ the cancer following an accidental injury when he cut the palm of his left hand while placing a surgical drain during surgery to remove the tumour from the patient’s abdomen.
Despite immediate disinfection and wound dressing, the surgeon was later diagnosed with a malignant tumour genetically identical to the patient.
The patient had been diagnosed with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), a rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer known for its high recurrence and metastatic potential.
Five months after the procedure, the surgeon discovered a firm, three-centimetre lump at the site of the incision on his hand. A biopsy confirmed the mass to be MFH – genetically identical to the tumour removed from his patient.
The case, initially reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, raises critical questions about occupational hazards and the biology of cancer.
Medical experts concluded that tumour cells from the patient had entered the surgeon’s bloodstream through the open wound – a so-called ‘accidental transplantation’ of cancer.
The case challenges long-standing assumptions in medical science. The human immune system is traditionally highly adept at recognising and rejecting foreign tissue, particularly malignant cells.
This defence mechanism typically prevents tumour cells from surviving and proliferating in another individual’s body, even under accidental exposure.
However, in this case, the tumour not only evaded immune detection but also developed malignant growth.
Pathological analysis revealed that the tumour likely underwent molecular alterations that shielded it from immune system recognition.
An inflammatory response was noted around the tumour site, indicating that the immune system had attempted to mount a defence but was ultimately unsuccessful.
The case underscores the occupational risks surgeons and medical staff face when handling aggressive malignancies and highlights the need for stringent safety measures in the OR.
Beyond its immediate implications for surgical safety, this case offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between cancer cells and the immune system.
Five months after the procedure, the surgeon discovered a firm, three-centimetre lump at the site of the incision on his hand. A biopsy confirmed the mass to be MFH – genetically identical to the tumour removed from his patient.
Two years after the surgeon’s tumour was surgically removed, no recurrence or metastasis was observed.
‘This unprecedented event highlights the importance of understanding tumour immunology and the unique challenges faced by medical professionals on the frontlines of care,’ authors said.
