A 16-Year-Old Girl's Life Was Saved Following Emergency Surgery at Schneider Children's - After Consulting with ChatGPT

A 16-year-old girl from northern Israel, an outstanding student in a cyber program, recently felt a lump in her abdomen. She consulted with ChatGPT and asked what it might be. The response she received – urging her to get examined and request an ultrasound – proved critical: the scan revealed a large mass in her pancreas.

She first noticed the unusual lump over a year ago but assumed it would go away on its own. When it reappeared recently, she decided to consult ChatGPT. The chatbot asked a series of guiding questions – under what conditions she noticed the lump, whether it moved or was fixed, soft or firm, and whether there was any family medical history. She even searched online for an image to indicate the lump’s location and shared it. Based on the information she provided, ChatGPT offered a preliminary assessment, suggesting possibilities such as a lipoma, inflammation, a liver or pancreatic issue, or even a benign tumor. It also asked whether she had pain, whether the lump had grown, and whether she had other symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, or fatigue. It then recommended immediate blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound.

Only at that point did the girl tell her mother. “It was late at night when she told me she had felt a lump in her abdomen for a long time. She said she was scared and that ChatGPT suggested it could be something serious,” the mother said. “I was very worried. I don't even know how I made it through the night. By 7 a.m., I took her straight to the urgent care clinic."

At the urgent care center, an abdominal ultrasound was performed, revealing a very large mass in the pancreas. The girl was immediately referred for emergency surgery at Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, part of Clalit Group.

According to Dr. Michael Gurevich, Director of the Liver Transplantation Unit at Schneider Children’s, who performed the surgery:

“This was a very large and relatively rare tumor in children. The procedure was a Whipple surgery – one of the most complex operations in the digestive system, especially in pediatric cases. The pancreas is located in a dense and anatomically challenging area, near major blood vessels and vital organs. We were able to remove the tumor in its entirety while preserving essential structures and maintaining gastrointestinal continuity."

The surgery was performed in collaboration with Prof. Eran Sadot from Rabin Medical Center.

Dr. Gurevich added: "This is the story of a girl who listened to her body and – thanks to artificial intelligence, early diagnosis, and a skilled medical team – her life was saved. Although the tumor was benign, it could have eventually blocked blood vessels in a life-threatening manner. Thanks to the early detection, we were able to prevent serious complications, and I’m pleased to report that she is recovering well and improving daily."

Dr. Eitan Kaplan, Senior Physician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Schneider Children’s, who treated the girl following surgery, emphasized that the case is exceptional and not representative of everyday practice.

“Israel has a very strong healthcare system – from primary care physicians to hospital teams. In this case, the first consultation happened to be with ChatGPT, and it set things in motion in a very effective way."

“There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence is part of our future. We, too, as physicians, use technology when needed – for identifying rare diagnoses, differential diagnoses, and occasionally treatment decisions in complex cases. That said, it’s important to note: we don’t take any recommendation at face value. We examine everything thoroughly and critically."