Success Story

JHI Collaborated with Physicians in Brazil to Help a 9-Year Old Child

In early 2003, Johns Hopkins International received an e-mail from a social worker in rural Brazil. This social worker described Patrick as a 9-year-old boy with an unusual growth across his back. Patrick,  diagnosed with a lipoblastoma since birth, has had 2 surgeries to remove it, at age 3 and 6. Unfortunately, the tumor continued to reoccur and had substantially increased in size for the past few years. Now it was the size of a knapsack.

Through established relationships with Medical Missions for Children, a U.S non-profit providing linkages between U.S. medical centers and physicians in medically underserved countries, and Dr. Evelyn Eisenstein, a former Hopkins fellow now living in Brazil, JHI took on the case to provide medical advice to the treating physicians at the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

On May 8, 2003, a two hour telemedicine session ensued between Johns Hopkins and the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. The patient records and the child were presented to a team of doctors at Hopkins led by Dr. Charles Paidas. The presenting team in Brazil was led by Dr. Eisenstein with approximately 20 colleagues. The interactive consultation occurred without the Hopkins physician having to leave the East Baltimore campus, nor the patient or his family having to leave Brazil.

After a thorough examination of the patient records, images and physical exam, it was determined that 95% of the tumor could be removed without loss of mobility. A second follow-up teleconsultation was conducted on September 19 as Drs. Padais and Paul Colombani consulted with the treating surgeons on how best to approach the case.

Since the video call, Patrick has had the first two of a total of four surgeries. Without the operation, the child’s life span and quality of life would have been severely reduced. This case was a prime example how Johns Hopkins International continues to use technology to better meets its mission of facilitating research, education, and patient care around the world.