Purpose: Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare but progressive cholangiopathy and the leading cause of pediatric liver transplantation worldwide. The Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons (KAPS) has conducted three national surveys (2001, 2011, and 2023) to assess long-term trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of BA. This study provides a comparative analysis of the 2nd and 3rd national surveys, with reference to selected findings from the 1st survey. Methods: This study included 453 patients from the 3rd national survey (2011–2021) and 435 patients from the 2nd survey (2001–2010), all of whom underwent Kasai portoenterostomy. Data were collected via electronic case report forms from pediatric surgical centers nationwide. Comparisons were made regarding demographics, clinical features, diagnostic patterns, operative details, follow-up outcomes, and survival. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to evaluate long-term survival. Results: The mean number of BA patients per year remained stable between surveys (43.5 in the 2nd, 41.18 in the 3rd), though centralization of care increased, with 61.5% of cases managed by two major institutions in the 3rd survey. The median age at surgery decreased, and the use of preoperative imaging (especially magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) increased. The 10-year native liver survival rate declined from 59.8% to 53.7%, while overall 10-year survival improved slightly (92.9% to 93.2%). Postoperative complications, such as cholangitis and liver failure, persisted but were better categorized. The 3rd survey also reported improved mortality (4.9%) and reduced follow-up loss (11.5%) compared to the 2nd survey. Conclusion While overall survival after Kasai operation has remained high and even improved, native liver survival has slightly declined. The findings reflect earlier diagnosis, more consistent diagnostic imaging, and increasing centralization of care. These trends underscore the importance of long-term nationwide data collection in guiding future strategies for BA management in Korea.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of pre-eruptive intracoronal radiolucencies (PEIR) from panoramic radiographs in Korean children and adolescents.
This study examined panoramic radiographs of 3,000 patients aged between 5 and 14 years old who visited ten dental hospitals in Korea. The age and gender of the patients, the tooth type, the number of intracoronal radiolucent lesions, and the location and size of the lesions were recorded.
The overall prevalence of patients with PEIR was 2.5%. The difference in the presence of PEIR between both genders was not significant. Within each tooth type, the mandibular first molar showed highest prevalence of PEIR (29.6%). The central part of the crown was the most frequently observed location of PEIR (56.8%). The size of the PEIR lesions was mostly limited to less than one-third of the thickness of coronal dentin.