Retroperitoneal tumours in children - Experience at Mayo Hospital, Lahore

To collect the data, mode of presentation and surgical outcome of various types of Retroperitoneal Tumours in Children. Prospective study. Two years [July, 1996 to Jul, 1998]. Paediatric Surgery Department, Mayo Hospital Lahore. During two years period total 30 patients of retroperitoneal tumours were admitted. Only five types of retroperitoneal tumours [Wilm`s tumours, neuroblastoma, teratoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and non-hodgkin lymphoma] were included in this study. Most of patients with retroperitoneal tumours presented under five years of age, particularly within first year of life. Males were predominant. Mass abdomen, anorexia and weight loss were the major mode of presentation. Most common tumour was wilms followed by neurobliastoma. Immediate post operative course was uneventful. We conclude that Retroperitoneal Tumours present commonly first five years of life. Early diagnosis and multimodality treatment improves prognosis

Aplasia cutis congenita in two brothers - a rare occurence

Aplasia cutis congenita [ACC] is characterized by the absence of a portion of skin in a localized or widespread area at birth. It is a rare disorder with a complicated pattern of inheritance. No unifying theory can account for all lesions of ACC. Apart from the isolated finding of aplasia cutis; several reports have associated it with a large number of developmental anomalies. Therefore, a complete physical examination should be performed to search for associated physical anomalies or recognizable malformation syndromes. We document two brothers aged, 6 years and I year, who presented with aplasia cutis congenita at almost the same location on scalp

Oesophageal atresia and tracheosophageal fistula

Forty-six neonates with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula were admitted in Mayo Hospital Lahore over a three and half years period from Jane 1995 to December 1998. Of these 76.08 percent were male. Delayed referral of 24 hours or more was noted in 78.20 percent. Among the neonates admitted 88 percent had moderate to severe chest infection and 70 percent weighed three or more than three kilograms. Associated congenital anomalies were noted in 41.3 percent, of which high imperforate anus accounted for more than 50 percent. Ligation of fistula and primary oesophageal end to end anastormosis was performed in 28 patients and in 4 neonates oesophagostomy and gastrostomy were performed. Survival rate of category A was 80 percent and overall survival was 40.63 percent