Israeli Surgeons Remove Large Chest Tumor From Seven-Year-Old Using Robotic Surgery
Surgeons at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa removed a 10-centimeter tumor from the chest of a seven-year-old boy using a robotic surgical system, according to reports published November 10.
The operation took place in early October. The hospital described it as the first procedure of this kind performed at Rambam on a patient so young. That description concerns the hospital’s own experience and does not establish a worldwide first.
The boy, from northern Israel, had not complained of pain or other symptoms, his mother said. The tumor was discovered during imaging in June after a small protrusion was noticed on his chest. The protrusion itself was found to be harmless, but the examination revealed the much larger growth elsewhere in the chest.
Doctors were concerned that continued growth could affect nearby organs. A multidisciplinary team, including thoracic surgeons, vascular specialists and radiologists, reviewed the findings before selecting a minimally invasive approach.
Dr. Amit Katz, director of Rambam’s thoracic surgery department, said the tumor’s position presented a particular challenge. It had to be separated safely from the esophagus, spine and aorta, the body’s main artery.
The team used the da Vinci system to operate through small incisions. Katz said the technology provided the precision needed to work near critical blood vessels while avoiding the extensive opening associated with conventional open-chest surgery.
Robotic-assisted surgery remains controlled by the surgeon. Intuitive, the system’s manufacturer, describes technology that translates the surgeon’s movements into movements of surgical instruments, with a magnified view of the operating area. The system does not independently decide or carry out an operation.
The tumor was completely removed, according to the hospital’s account. The boy was discharged less than 48 hours later, and his mother reported that he returned to his second-grade classroom within less than a week and a half.
The recovery details describe this individual case. The reports do not provide long-term follow-up results or establish that every child with a similar tumor would be suitable for the same approach.
References
C14 — November 10, 2026
c14/article/1782178
WireIsrael — November 10, 2026
wireisrael/news/rambam-robotic-tumor-removal-10
Intuitive — Technical background; publication date unspecified
intuitive/en-us/patients/da-vinci-robotic-surgery
