Paediatric mesenteric lipoma, an unusual cause of repeated abdominal pain. A case report.

Fatty masses, especially solid lipomas, in the paediatric abdomen are very rare. We present such a case, that of an 11-year-old boy who was admitted with abdominal pain and distension. The pre-operative diagnosis of lipoma was suggested by US and CT.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma in Sweden between 1978 and 1989: long-term functional results.

Thirty-four patients operated with sacrococcygeal teratoma in Sweden between 1978 and 1989 were reviewed. Twenty-five children were available for functional follow-up. The patients and their parents were interviewed for bowel and micturition habits.

Tissue expansion facilitates operation of large myelomeningoceles.

Two children had delayed operations for large myelomeningoceles. As a preparatory operation one silicon tissue expander was inserted on each side of the lesion and successively inflated by weekly injections of saline. After an expansion time of 5 to 6 weeks the definitive procedure was performed.

Neuron-specific enolase as a marker for intestinal neurons. An immunocytochemical study of the human intestinal tract.

Surgical specimens from various parts of the human intestinal tract as well as suction biopsy specimens, including mucosa and submucosa of the rectum, were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin by routine procedures. The distribution of immunoreactive areas indicating the presence of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was then determined by using a sheep anti-human-NSE antiserum prepared in our laboratory. The immunocytochemical method revealed, in distinct contrast to other tissue components, the cell bodies of ganglion cells in the submucosa (Meissner's plexus) and in the muscle layers (Auerbach's plexus).

Infection as a cause of peritoneal catheter dysfunction in ventriculo-peritoneal shunting in children.

Peritoneal catheter dysfunction is a significant complication of VP shunting in children. Improvement in technique and material should reduce complications such as detachment and breakage. Shunt infection, even if subclinical, should be suspected as the cause of early peritoneal catheter obstruction, especially if recurrent, as well as in cases of organ perforation.