Huge Tumor Removed From Man's Jaw

MIAMI (AP) â€” Dieuvius Morancy told doctors he had been living with the football-sized tumor protruding from his face for two, maybe three, years. <br><br>No more. Doctors at the University of Miami/Jackson

Friday, August 18th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) â€” Dieuvius Morancy told doctors he had been living with the football-sized tumor protruding from his face for two, maybe three, years.

No more. Doctors at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital spent 10 1/2 hours removing the 18-inch tumor Tuesday from the 37-year-old Haitian peasant farmer.

``I expect he will be requesting a mirror at some point,'' Dr. Eric Carlson said Wednesday.

The benign tumor probably began growing 20 years ago and originated from the same cells that ordinarily form teeth, doctors said. But for unknown reasons, the tumor, called an ameloblastoma, began growing inside of Morancy's jaw instead.

It caused Morancy's trachea to shift to the left, making it difficult for him to swallow and at times speak.

Morancy came to the United States after meeting doctors from Atlanta visiting Haiti on a medical mission earlier this year. The doctors feared Morancy might die without treatment and arranged free medical visits and surgery.

But instead of making a connecting flight to Atlanta, Morancy got off the plane from Port-au-Prince in Miami on July 30 and ended up at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he is also being treated for severe anemia and malnutrition.

Doctors declined to say how much the procedure cost, but guessed the patient would not be charged.

They are now examining the tumor and they have taken tissue samples from around Morancy's face and neck to make sure portions of it aren't lingering.

So far all indications are that the tumor has been completely removed and that Morancy will be cured, though he may not look completely normal, Carlson said.

``My hope here is that we will be satisfied with the appearance and that the patient will be satisfied with the way he looks as well,'' Carlson said.

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On the Net:

University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital: http://www.um-jmh.org