A lung cancer patient scheduled for surgery was unexpectedly diagnosed with a giant cerebral vascular malformation – a “ticking time bomb” that could rupture at any moment during the operation. FV Hospital urgently mobilised a network of leading specialists from Vietnam and Singapore to develop a precise treatment plan, enabling the patient to make a remarkable recovery from a life-or-death situation.

Facing Unexpected Double Threat: Lung Cancer and Cerebral Vascular Malformation

The medical challenge began just over a month ago when Ms D.N. Nga, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, developed a persistent cough and sought a check-up at a major private hospital in the city. Results revealed an abnormal white spot on her lung. Doctors recommended immediate surgery, with a follow-up biopsy to determine whether the tumour was benign or malignant.

Unsettled by what seemed like a vague diagnosis, Ms Nga and her husband decided to seek a second opinion at FV Hospital.

Specialist Level II, Luong Ngoc Trung, MD, MSc – Head of Thoracic, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery at FV Hospital, examined and consulted with Ms Nga. Imaging revealed a lung opacity of more than 2 cm. “According to the Cancer Society’s guidelines, this pulmonary nodule requires careful monitoring and appropriate management,” Dr Trung explained. He meticulously analysed each possible scenario and corresponding treatment plan, ensuring that the patient and her family understood their options.

According to international cancer guidelines, there were three options in Ms Nga’s case: undergo CT scans every three months for follow-up; conduct a PET-CT scan to determine the nature of the lesion; or carry out a biopsy. At that time, Ho Chi Minh City was temporarily out of radiopharmaceutical supplies, making PET-CT scans unavailable. Given the circumstances, both the doctor and patient agreed to proceed with a CT-guided needle biopsy.

Although Ms Nga had mentally prepared herself, the biopsy result confirming “lung cancer” still came as a shock to her and her husband. Surgery was urgently required to prevent the potential spread of cancer cells. Dr Trung carefully explained each treatment plan, referencing international medical guidelines and his own clinical experience. His thorough approach helped the couple feel reassured and ready for the difficult journey ahead.

However, a brain MRI performed to check for metastasis revealed another critical threat – a giant cerebral vascular malformation, described by doctors as a high-risk condition. The malformation could rupture at any moment, posing a serious risk, especially under anaesthesia during surgery.

Vietnamese and Singaporean Healthcare Experts Collaborate to Determine the Optimal Treatment Plan

“If the lung surgery succeeded but the patient suffered a stroke on the operating table, all efforts would be in vain,” Dr Trung explained. To ensure the safest and most effective approach, a multidisciplinary consultation was held with cerebrovascular specialists from both within FV Hospital and external institutions.

While on a previously planned family trip to Singapore, Ms Nga and her husband were connected through Thomson Medical Group, the parent company of FV Hospital, with leading cerebrovascular specialists in Singapore. During her visit, she also underwent a PET-CT scan to evaluate the lung tumour and received additional consultations. These findings contributed  valuable insights for the joint case discussion between the medical teams.

Both Singaporean and Vietnamese specialists reached a key conclusion: Ms Nga’s cerebral vascular malformation did not yet require urgent intervention. Although there was a risk of stroke during lung surgery, it was considered manageable – provided that critical factors such as blood pressure were carefully controlled. As a result, the medical team agreed that the top priority was to proceed with lung cancer surgery first, while the tumour remained at an early, highly treatable stage.

“Our whole family felt like we were trapped in a maze of battles, with every path filled with challenges and risks. But with the clear treatment plan outlined by Dr Trung, along with consultations from leading specialists both in Vietnam and abroad, we felt reassured and filled with confidence,” shared Mr Nguyen T. Phong, the patient’s husband.

From a Nerve-Racking Operation to Overwhelming Joy

On the morning of 31 July, the surgery began. The FV team had prepared for every possible scenario. Through an incision of just 3 cm, Dr Trung inserted thoracoscopic instruments into the patient’s chest, successfully removing the tumour and excising all cancerous cells. No lymph node metastasis was detected – achieving an R0 resection.

The operation concluded after three hours, and the surgical team breathed a sigh of relief: the vascular malformation caused no complications, and the procedure went exactly as planned. Pathology results later confirmed stage 1A lung cancer with an excellent prognosis. The patient would only need regular follow-up and no additional treatment. For the family, it was the best possible outcome.

Outside the operating theatre, Mr Phong and his son waited anxiously, gripped with worry as the surgery progressed, with the vascular malformation still a major unknown. At 12:15, a message from Dr Trung arrived “The surgery was successful.” Overcome with emotion, both father and son burst into tears of joy.

An hour later, Dr Trung emerged from the operating theatre. Though being visibly tired after the lengthy surgery, he took the time to meet the family and carefully explain every detail. “That moment is something I will never forget,” Mr Phong said emotionally.

Seven days after the surgery, Ms Nga was discharged with a radiant smile, expressing deep gratitude to the entire team that had dedicated themselves to saving her life.

The deeply emotional journey of his wife’s treatment moved Mr Phong to write a thank-you letter, which he personally submitted to a major newspaper to explain his appreciation for Dr Trung and FV Hospital. He described his wife’s battle against cancer as “a miraculous story of a Vietnamese woman who conquered an ‘F1 race’ lasting more than four hours.” It wasn’t a race on asphalt, he wrote — but a race for life.

“We are profoundly grateful for the dedication, thoughtfulness, and compassion that Dr Trung extended to us,”  Mr Phong wrote. “He was not only the surgeon but also a solid source of emotional support for us throughout the treatment,”

He also expressed his appreciation to FV Hospital as a whole: “We would like to sincerely thank the entire FV team, who gave us an exceptional medical experience with modern, internationally standard facilities, a clean and safe environment, and a professional, well-organised system. In every small detail, we felt the dedication, respect, and meticulous care, as if we were staying in a true ‘five-star hotel’, yet still surrounded by warmth and humanity.”

For Mr Phong, the letter was more than a token of gratitude to those who gave his wife a new lease of life; it was also a message to other patients: seek the right treatment path from the beginning, and don’t waste precious time.

Thanks to the close collaboration between multiple specialties and the integrated network of Singaporean and Vietnamese experts, FV Hospital was able to develop the most effective treatment plan for Ms Nga. This partnership exemplified the strength of cross-border cooperation — and contributed to what can genuinely be called a medical miracle.