Iraqi Woman Undergoes 7-hour Surgery for Rare Tumor at Fortis Hospital

By Manpreet Kaur

A tumor of 3x3 cm size was removed from the lower jawbone of the patient.

Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj gave a new lease of life to a 27-year-old Iraqi woman by removing a “rare recurrent tumor” from the lower jawbone, thereby allowing her to eat properly after three years.

Rasha Mohammad was initially treated in her home country for the tumor. It was resected and a reconstruction plate was placed to bridge the gap in the lower jaw. However, this recurrent tumor – ameloblastoma, relapsed and the lower jaw got maligned due to which it was difficult to bite, chew and eat food.

Iraqi Woman Undergoes 7-hour surgery for rare tumor at Fortis Hospital

The relapsed tumor also resulted in physical disfigurement and the right side of the face was depressed.

“Rasha Mohammad was taken for surgery where the tumor was removed along with the jawbone and chin. Bone from the right illiac crest was removed, shaped and auto-transplanted to form the right jaw and chin. The blood supply to the new jaw was augmented by bringing in sternocleidomastoid muscle flap to cover the bone," said Dr. Mandeep S Malhotra, Head- Breast, Head & Neck Oncology Surgery, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj.

“The entire surgery took seven hours. We have been able to achieve more than expected. The tumor has been removed and the patient’s face looks normal. Additionally, she can bite properly and ear normal food,” added Dr. Malhotra.

Read the full story: Iraqi Woman Undergoes Rare Tumor Removal Surgery in Delhi

Written by

Manpreet Kaur

Vaidam Health · Updated 25 Sept 2026

Manpreet Kaur is an Engineer by education but found her interests in research and writing. Her prolific career spans the world of health, travel and digital marketing. She is a music lover who can be found with headphones on at any time of the day. If not found in office, then it is for sure she had packed her bag and is on trip to quench her thirst for adventure.

Trying to extract the best out of life, she has eclectic mind trapped in a peripatetic body.

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Dr. Mandeep SinghOrthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon

Dr. Mandeep Singh is an eminent Orthopaedist and Spine surgeon practicing successfully for more than 19 years. He is adept in performing spinal surgeries using Renaissance Mazor, minimally invasive PLIF/TLIF, deformity, Scoliosis Correction Surgery, Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty and managing Polytrauma and Complex Trauma. He also does Spinal Biopsy, Nucleoplasty, Balloon Kyphoplasty, and Lumbar and Cervical Disc Replacement surgery. He spearheaded the team that set up the department of spine surgery and pain management in Fortis Escorts Bone and Spine Institute. He was awarded for being 1st in D. Ortho. He has attended multiple conferences and presented papers in them. He was also invited as Faculty at Bhagalpur Orthopaedic Club Bihar, July 2013 and IMA Westown, held at Radisson Hotel, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, August 2013. He is a member of several prestigious associations that include the Indian Orthopaedic Association, Indian Arthroscopy Society, Association of Spine Society of India, North American Spine Society, and AO Spine, Switzerland. He also takes interest in research and has numerous publications to his credit in National and International journals.