Congenital segmental dilatation of the colon is a very rare entity of unknown etiology, characterized by a localized dilatation of a bowel segment of the colon of variable length and an abrupt transition between the normal and dilated intestine. It can affect any part of the colon, with the rectosigmoid colon being the most commonly affected site. The clinical and radiological features may resemble that of Hirschsprung disease, but differ in that the normal ganglion cells are found in the dilated and normal segment of the colon. We performed laparoscopic-assisted transanal endorectal pull-through for segmental dilatation of rectosigmoid colon in an 8-year-old boy with chronic constipation since the age of 5 months.
Child* ; Colon* ; Constipation ; Dilatation* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Intestines ; Male

We report a case of nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas in a 15-year-old girl who presented with back pain. On physical examination, there was mild tenderness in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The patient had no pancreatic hormone-associated symptoms. An abdominal ultrasonography showed a well-demarcated hypervascular solid mass with calcification in the tail of the pancreas. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a 6x5cm sized well-encapsulated enhancing solid mass with cystic component in the tail of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy was performed. Pathology revealed awell- differentiated nonfunctioning low grade malignant neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Abdomen ; Adolescent ; Back Pain ; Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Physical Examination

Median raphe cyst (MRC) of the perineum is rare congenital midline cyst of the male genitalia. MRC is thought to be caused by congenital alterations in the embryologic development of the male genitalia during fetal life. MRC can be found on the midline position between the urethral meatus and the anus. The lesion can be cystic, but sometimes it looks like an elongated configuration called a raphe canal. Diagnosis in childhood is particularly rare because they are usually asymptomatic, but some cases have reportedly been identified after infection. Although conservative treatment can be possible in small asymptomatic lesions, the treatment of choice is simple excision followed by primary closure in symptomatic cases. We describe here the case of 2-year-old boy presented at our institution with a 10-month history of anomaly of the perineal median raphe, which was treated by surgical excision.
Anal Canal ; Child, Preschool* ; Diagnosis ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male* ; Perineum

No abstract available.
Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ Cells ; Liver ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal

Four children with solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas are reported. Three were girls. Mean age at operation was 12 years and 7 months (10-13 years). Clinical presentation included nausea, vomiting, and apalpable mass. One had hemoperitoneum due to tumor rupture. In two cases, tumors were in the body of the pancreas, and one the body and tail, and in one,the tail. Mean diameter of the tumors was 10.8 cm (8-15cm). Surgical procedures were distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in 2 cases, distal pancreatectomy in one, and subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in one. Mean follow-up period was 61 months (6-121 months). Three patients are still alive without any recurrence. However, in the one case of ruptured tumor, portal vein thrombosis and liver metastasis developed after subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy during the course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Liver ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Recurrence ; Rupture ; Splenectomy ; Venous Thrombosis ; Vomiting

Four children with solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas are reported. Three were girls. Mean age at operation was 12 years and 7 months (10-13 years). Clinical presentation included nausea, vomiting, and apalpable mass. One had hemoperitoneum due to tumor rupture. In two cases, tumors were in the body of the pancreas, and one the body and tail, and in one,the tail. Mean diameter of the tumors was 10.8 cm (8-15cm). Surgical procedures were distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in 2 cases, distal pancreatectomy in one, and subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in one. Mean follow-up period was 61 months (6-121 months). Three patients are still alive without any recurrence. However, in the one case of ruptured tumor, portal vein thrombosis and liver metastasis developed after subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy during the course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Liver ; Nausea ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Recurrence ; Rupture ; Splenectomy ; Venous Thrombosis ; Vomiting

Spontaneous gastric perforation in the newborn is a rare disease that requires early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment. Between 1988 and 2001 at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 9 cases of spontaneous gastric perforation were treated. Seven were males and two females. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 36.7 weeks and 2,455 grespectively. All patients presented with severe abdominal distention and pneumoperitoneum on cross table lateral film of the abdomen. Perforations were located on the anterior wall along the greater curvature of the stomach in six and on the posterior wall along the greater curvature in two. One case showed two sites of perforation on the anterior and posterior wall along the greater curvature. Six patients were managed with debridement and primary closure and the others with debridement and partial gastrectomy. Peritoneal drainage was not performed. There were four deaths; two from sepsis due to leakage from the anastomotic site, one as a result of acute renal failure, and the other by associated respiratory distress syndrome. Spontaneous gastric perforation in the newborn is usually located along the greater curvature. Elevated intragastric pressure is a possible cause of the perforation. Poor prognosis is related to associated diseases and prematurity.
Abdomen ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Birth Weight ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gestational Age ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Stomach

We experienced a case of a 4-year-old girl presenting with vomiting, abdominal pain and mobile mass in the periumbilical area. On physical examination, the abdomen was soft and a 10x10 cm sized, painless firm mobile round mass was palpated in the periumbilical area. An abdominopelvic computed tomography scan showed a huge hypodense mass with encapsulation and multiple septation in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, compressing the intestinal loops. At operative exploration, she was found to have a soft, yellowish round mass originating from the ileal mesentery, situated 10 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The mass was completely excised together with the adjoining ileum, and bowel continuity was restored. Histopathologic diagnosis revealed a mesenteric lipoma, composed of mature adipocytes with no evidence of necrosis or malignancy. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adipocytes ; Child ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Ileum ; Lipoma ; Mesentery ; Necrosis ; Physical Examination ; Preschool Child ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of a 20-gauge and an 18-gauge needle in sono-guided percutaneous automated gun biopsy for establishing the specific diagnosis of renal parenchymal disease in pediatric kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 60 pediatric patients with renal parenchymal diseases, percutaneous sono-guided gun biopsy was performed by an experienced radiologist. In two groups of 30 patients, regardless of their age, two needle passes were performed, using alternately an 18-gauge or a 20-gauge biopsy needle. The core of renal tissue thus obtained was examined with light, immunofluorescent or electron microscopy by the renal pathologist. The mean number of intact glomeruli of whole tissue core per biopsy, as seen on the light microscopy, and post-bioptic complications were compared between the two different needle size groups. RESULTS: The number (mean+/-1 standard deviation) ofglomeruli obtained per biopsy was 17+/-8 in the 18-gauge needle group, and 14+/-5 in the 20-gauge group. Between two groups, there was no major post-bioptic complication requiring specific treatment, nor a statistically significant difference in the frequency of minor complications. CONCLUSION: Even though more glomeruli were obtained with an 18-gauge needle, the number obtained with a 20-gauge needle also permitted adequate pathologic examination. Both an 18-gauge and a 20-gauge needle may thus be suitable for renal biopsy in pediatric patients.
Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Needles*

Intestinal atresia is a frequent cause of intestinal obstruction in the newborn. We reviewed the clinical presentation, associated anomalies, types of atresias, operative managements, and early postoperative complications in 36 cases of intestinal atresia treated at the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital between January 1994 and February 2003. Location of the lesion was duodenum in 17 patients, jejunum in 11 patients and ileum in 8 patients. The male to female ratio was 1:1.4 in duodenal atresia (DA), 2.7:1 in jejunal atresia (JA) and 7:1 in ileal atresia (IA). The most common type was type III (41.1 %) in DA, and type I (52.6 %) in JA and IA. The most common presenting symptoms was vomiting(88.2 %) in DA, but in jejunoileal atresia, vomiting(89.4 %) and abdominal distension(89.4 %) were the most common sign and symptom. All cases of DA were diagnosed by plain abdominal radiography. There were 6 cases of DA with congenital heart disease, 3 cases of DA with Down syndrome and 3 cases of JA with meconium peritonitis. Segmental resection was performed in 13 cases, duodenoduodenostomy in 11 cases, membrane excision in 7 cases, jejunojejunostomy in 2 cases, gastroduodenostomy in 2 cases and ileocolic anastomosis in 1 case. There were 9 postoperative complications including 3 each of anastomotic leakage, wound infection, and intestinal obstruction 3 cases. The mortality rate for DA was 11.8 %(2/17). Both deaths in DA were attributed to congenital heart disease. The mortality rate for JA was 18% (2/11). Both cases died with sepsis and short bowel syndrome.
Anastomotic Leak ; Down Syndrome ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Ileum ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Atresia* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Jejunum ; Male ; Meconium ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Peritonitis ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Sepsis ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; Wound Infection