Gardner=s syndrome refers to a group of children born with familial adenomatous (multiple) polyposis and significant extracolonic manifestations. Familial adenomatous polyposis is an autosomal dominant disorder originating from a germline alteration of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene in the long arm of chromosome 5. The most significant extracolonic manifestation of Gardner=s syndrome consi...

Lymphangiomas are congenital cystic tumors developing in the neck, axilla, chest and trunk. Characteristically they are composed of multiple sacs or loculation of lymphatic fluid. Cysts can vary in size from microcysts to large cystlike dilatations. The tumor can compress vital structure. The close relation of this benign tumor with vital structures reduces the chances of complete surgical exci...

Intraperitoneal adhesions are frequently encountered and present significant challenges to the practicing surgeon, including increased operating time, bowel obstruction, pelvic pain, and infertility. Until recently, however, our knowledge of the biology of adhesion formation within the peritoneal cavity has been limited, which in turn limits prevention and treatment strategies for surgical pati...

Methods: In 1989, the Japanese Biliary Atresia Society started a nationwide registry, JBAR, to investigate all aspects of biliary atresia. A total of 1,381 patients, 863 girls, 507 boys, and 11 unknown, were registered between 1989 and 1999. JBAR includes an initial and follow-up questionnaires. Using these patients’ data, the incidence, sex distribution, associated anomalies, the type of obstr...

In this issue of Pediatric Annals, we present updates on both common pediatric surgical problems as well as surgical solutions to more complicated diagnoses. I hope the articles provide not only a different perspective on various surgical topics but also serve as a starting point for discussions and debates. Although it is one of the most common problems encountered by pediatric surgeons, appen...

Welcome to the pediatric surgery service. Pediatric surgery is primarily concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of surgical diseases of children, and differs from general surgery in that it is an age defined surgical specialty instead of an anatomically defined specialty. Pediatric surgeons are usually trained in the management of general surgical disease of children but also in the treatme...

Several aspects of cataract surgery in children differ from adults. Ocular anatomy, cataract morphology, exaggerated response to surgical trauma, and the need for amblyopia therapy are major concerns in pediatric cataract surgery. Moreover, intraoperative differences such as location and type of incisions, management of anterior and posterior capsules and need for anterior vitrectomy are other ...

There are over 380,000 childhood cancer survivors (CCS) alive in the US, and the population is growing. CCS face significant long-term morbidity and mortality as a consequence of their cancer treatment and thus require lifelong, risk-based health care focused on surveillance and early intervention to minimize the impact of late effects and second malignant neoplasms (SMN). Surgeons play a criti...

Adenotonsillectomy is the most common surgery performed for sleep disordered breathing with good outcomes. Children with obesity, craniofacial disorders, and neurologic impairment are at risk for persistent sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy. Techniques exist to address obstructive lesions of the palate, tongue base, or craniofacial skeleton in children with persistent sleep apnea. Children w...