Surgeon contracts cancer from patient in world’s first known case

ALEXA LARDIERI FROM DAILYMAIL

A unique medical incident occurred when a doctor accidentally transplanted cancer from a patient into himself during surgery. The patient, a 32-year-old man from Germany, was having a tumor removed from his abdomen. During the procedure, the surgeon accidentally cut his hand, but immediately disinfected and bandaged the wound.

Five months later, the 53-year-old surgeon noticed a small lump forming at the injury site. Upon seeking medical attention, tests revealed that the lump was a malignant tumor. Genetic testing showed that the tumor was identical to the cancer the patient had.

The surgeon’s medical team concluded that the cancer cells likely entered his body through the hand cut during the surgery.

Experts noted that this case was unusual because, in typical transplants, the immune system would reject foreign tissue. They had expected the surgeon’s body to fight off the cancer cells, but this did not occur in this case.