Archive · 24 Dec 2025
Rare Brain Tissue Found in Infant's Abdomen
Doctors in Assam, India, found a very rare case where brain tissue was growing inside a baby's tummy.
This is called neuroglial heterotopia and has only been seen six times before in the world.
The baby was 7 months old when her parents noticed a swelling in her belly.
The swelling got worse and made it hard for her to breathe.
Doctors did scans and found a big mass in her tummy that was pushing on her kidneys and pancreas.
They did surgery to remove the mass, which weighed about half a kilogram.
The baby recovered quickly and is now healthy and playing like any other child her age.
This is a big achievement for the doctors in India.
Doctors in Assam discovered a rare case of brain tissue growing in an infant's abdomen, a condition called neuroglial heterotopia.
The baby was 7 months old when her parents noticed an unusual swelling in her abdomen, which worsened over time.
A CT scan revealed a massive growth in the lower abdomen, displacing vital organs like the kidneys and pancreas.
The surgery to remove the 550-gram mass was successful, and the baby recovered within four days, showing no complications.
This condition is extremely rare, with only six similar cases documented worldwide.
- Who
- A 7-month-old infant in Assam, India
- What
- Rare brain tissue growth in the abdomen (neuroglial heterotopia)
- When
- Discovered at 7 months, surgery performed at 11 months
- Where
- Assam, India
- Why
- Unknown cause, but the condition caused abdominal swelling and weight loss
- Location
- Assam, India
- Condition
- Neuroglial heterotopia
- Mass Weight
- 550 grams
- Age at Discovery
- 7 months
- Recovery Time
- 4 days post-surgery
- Known Cases Worldwide
- 6
- Surgery Complexity
- High (near major blood vessels and kidneys)
- Post-Surgery Activity
- Normal, healthy, and gaining weight