In Chile, a five-year-old girl named Ignacia Sanmartin (also referred to as Ignacia San Martín or Ignacia Antonia Sanmartin Ibarra) from Villa Alemana faced an extraordinary medical challenge. Born with a progressive facial and neck mass known as a lymphangioma (a benign growth caused by malfunctioning lymphatic vessels), the tumor grew over time into a large, fluid-filled cystic structure affecting her chin, cheeks, and neck.

The mass severely distorted her facial symmetry and compromised vital functions. It pressed on her windpipe (trachea), causing significant breathing difficulties—especially during illness or colds—and made chewing and eating painful. The tumor also led to earaches, balance issues, and discomfort at the base of her tongue. Doctors warned that continued growth risked fatal airway obstruction.

Her parents, Jonathan and Danitza, described the daily struggles and the emotional toll. The condition was not covered under Chile’s AUGE or Ricarte Soto laws at the time, so the family relied on community support through raffles, bingos, and donations to fund high-complexity care. A multidisciplinary medical team carefully evaluated options for surgical removal and potential maxillofacial reconstruction.

In 2018, surgeon Dr. Gonzalo Rossel (sometimes spelled Rossell or Russell) performed a high-risk, approximately 14-hour operation to remove as much of the tumor as possible. The procedure proved complex: the growth was more mixed (involving blood vessels as well as lymphatic tissue) than initially expected, leading to significant bleeding risks during resection. Most of the mass was successfully excised, though monitoring for possible regrowth was required afterward. The case was later featured in documentary-style programs, including segments on Body Bizarre (TLC) and Discovery Channel’s Diagnósticos Extraordinarios / Mi Cuerpo Mi Desafío, highlighting both the medical challenges and the family’s resilience.

The story of Ignacia drew widespread attention and solidarity in Chile and beyond. It underscored the difficulties families face with rare congenital vascular anomalies, the importance of specialized pediatric maxillofacial and head-and-neck surgery, and the power of community support amid limited public coverage for certain high-cost procedures.

Tragically, according to a 2019 statement from a family-associated account, Ignacia later passed away due to circumstances described as unrelated medical negligence, not the tumor itself. Her case remains a poignant reminder of both medical progress and the ongoing needs of children with complex congenital conditions.

Sources

• Daily Mail / MailOnline health reporting (2018): Coverage of the surgery and condition.
• NEWS.am Medicine and related international summaries of the Chilean case.
• Chilean media (e.g., 24 Horas) reports on the family’s fundraising efforts and diagnosis of cervical lymphangioma.
• Discovery Latinoamérica / Body Bizarre (TLC) documentary segments featuring Ignacia San Martín’s story and surgery.
• Family/support social media updates regarding later developments.

This account is synthesized from contemporaneous news, medical descriptions, and documentary coverage of the case.