PATNA, March 17 -- Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna (AIIMS) successfully removed a rare chest tumour from a three-year-old girl from Vaishali using an advanced minimally invasive "keyhole" thoracoscopic surgery, offering renewed hope for the young patient, an institute communique said on Monday.

The tumour, identified as Ganglioneuroma - a rare, benign (non-cancerous) tumour that develops from nerve tissue - measured about 7x6x5 cm and was located close to vital organs including the lungs and heart, according to a communique issued by the institute on Monday.

The complex surgery, performed on March 2, was the first such procedure at AIIMS Patna. Doctors completely removed the tumour through just three tiny 5...