Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas. Case report and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: Solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs) are classified among the rare malignant tumors but they usually appear as slowly growing and low-grade malignancy and also occur in children and adolescents. They are mostly detected incidentally, but may occasionally present with sudden pain or symptoms of compression of adjacent structures. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl having an SPT of the exocrine pancreas presenting with an upper abdominal mass following a slight trauma at the dancing school.

Mediastinal teratomas in children. Case reports and review of the literature.

Background: In the pediatric age, mediastinal teratomas are an infrequent observation, accounting for only 7%-11% of extragonadal teratomas. Mainly located in the anterior mediastinum arising from the thymic gland, or exceptionally, from ectopic thyroid tissue, they may rarely be observed in the posterior mediastinum, sometimes in a paravertebral position, simulating a neuroblastoma. The Authors have extrapolated, from their entire experience of teratomas, 3 cases, mostly operated as emergencies; 1 of them was treated just after birth.

Rare extragonadal teratomas in children: complete tumor excision as a reliable and essential procedure for significant survival. Clinical experience and review of the literature.

Background: Extragonadal teratomas are rare tumors in neonates and infants and can sometimes show unusual, distinctive feature such as an unusual location, a clinical sometimes acute, presentation and a "fetiform" histotype of the lesion. We have extrapolated, from our entire experience of teratomas, 4 unusual cases, mostly operated as emergencies; 2 of them were treated just after birth. Aim of this paper is to report the clinical and pathological findings, to evaluate the surgical approach and the long-term biological behaviour in these cases, in the light of survival and current insights reported in the literature.

Unusual presentation of sacrococcygeal teratomas and associated malformations in children: clinical experience and review of the literature.

Background: Sacrococcygeal teratomas are the most common and best known extragonadal teratomas in neonates and infants, but they sometimes present unique, distinctive features unlike those commonly described, that can be considered exceptional and noteworthy.

Material And Methods: The Authors reviewed the most significant (Table I, II) clinical, laboratory, radiological and pathologic findings, surgical procedure, and early and long-term results in 5 children, 2 males and 3 females, suffering from sacrococcygeal teratomas. Four of 5 patients were observed and managed in the neonatal age.

Metrorrhagia in a child with an endodermal sinus tumor of the vagina: a case report.

In a female child presenting with vaginal bleeding or a mass protruding through the vagina, it is mandatory to perform an endoscopic and laparoscopic examination and biopsy to establish the correct diagnosis and precise extent of the lesion. An endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the vagina is a rare, malignant germ cell tumor that occurs primarily in infants. Clearly, the vagina is a critical site for treatment, and the surgeon should seek to preserve the reproductive and sexual function, if possible.

Polydimethylsiloxane (macroplastique®) injection for vesicoureteral reflux in duplex ureters: a comparison with single renal systems.

Objective: VUR in patients with a duplex system (DS) is often treated by open surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of subureteric polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique(®)) injection (SMING) in the management of VUR in duplex and single (SS) renal systems.

Patients And Methods: Fifteen children (24 refluxing renal units) with VUR in DS underwent SMING.

Preperitoneoscopic approach for bladder neck sling suspension in a boy: preliminary experience.

Objectives: This report is aimed at describing our preliminary experience with the preperitoneoscopic approach to the bladder neck for rectus fascial sling suspension in neurogenic bladder.

Materials And Methods: A 13-year-old boy with spina bifida was admitted to our institution to treat bladder incontinence. A bladder neck suspension and bladder augmentation was planned.

Nephrectomy for multicystic dysplastic kidney and renal hypodysplasia in children: where do we stand?

Objectives: Little is reported in literature regarding correct management of benign lesions of the kidney. The aim of our study is to present a series of total and partial nephrectomies performed in the last 5 years and to discuss indications.

Materials And Methods: Patients with benign lesions who underwent nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy at our institution in the period 2003-2008 were retrospectively included in the study.

Defective in vitro contractility of ureteropelvic junction in children with functional and obstructive urine flow impairment.

Background/purpose: Studies of children with urinary flow impairment (UFI) at the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) have revealed prestenotic, stenotic, and poststenotic histologic changes. Muscle function, however, has not been investigated. We therefore evaluated in vitro UPJ contractility by tensiometry in children with UFI.

Endoscopic treatment with polydimethylsiloxane in children with dilating vesico-ureteric reflux.

Objective: To report our experience of treating dilating vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) in children, using an injectable form of polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique, MPQ; Uroplasty BV, Geleen, The Netherlands), as medical treatment for moderate or severe VUR is associated with a high proportion of persistence or development of new scars.

Patients And Methods: The study included 32 children (40 ureters) with VUR; 13 (32%) were grade III, 20 (50%) grade IV and seven (18%) grade V. They were treated over a period of 42 months, 66% for some form of bladder dysfunction and 38% had associated diseases.

Complications of mechanical suturing in pediatric patients.

Background/purpose: Although it is widely accepted that staplers are effective in reducing operating time, potential complications related to their use in the pediatric population are not well defined yet. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of mechanical suturing.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2001, 174 procedures were performed using circular staplers in gastrointestinal anastomosis, whereas linear staplers were used in gastrointestinal and lung resection.