New Delhi: In a first in the world, the Department of Urology of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has removed a rare neuroendocrine tumour known as Pheochromocytoma, through robotic surgery.

The 53-year-old patient, Dharma Chand Bansal, Principal of an MCD school, was suffering from Pheochromocytoma that involved the left ureter and was obstructing the left kidney.

It took over three hours to operate the tumour, an official at the institute said.

Dr. Narmada Gupta, Head of the Urology Department said, "Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumour which results in high blood pressure. This case is rare as Pheochromocytoma causes hypertension in less than one percent cases and once the tumour is removed, high blood pressure ceases out."

"While an open surgery has been traditionally practised, we have used robotic surgery and instead of a large incision managed to work with five smaller entry points into the body", Dr. Gupta added.