Survey on childhood solid malignant tumors in cases admitted to Mofid pediatric hospital from 1996-2010: a single-center study

As children comprise a considerable proportion of our population, the importance of local epidemiologic research and geographic and racial differences can't be disputed on childhood malignancies. In this descriptive retrospective study, we extensively reviewed the medical records of patients younger than 15 years of age, diagnosed with solid malignant tumors, from 1996 to 2010, using the last version of International Classification of Childhood Cancers. In our study the order of incidence of solid malignancies was relatively similar to the other national studies, with lymphomas and Central Nervous System [CNS] tumors as the most common, followed by Sympathetic Nervous System [SNS] tumors, soft tissue sarcomas and renal tumors. The peak age of diagnosis was between 1 and 4 years old. In our study, the overall male to female ratio was 1.38, with a trend towards male dominance in the older age groups. We also observed a disturbing trend of childhood solid malignancies. The total number of cases almost doubled from 2009[54[6.9%]] to 2010[96[12.2%]] .This trend was particularly detected in CNS and SNS tumors. Further analysis showed that malignant CNS tumors had played a more pronounced role in this change. Changes in trends of some tumor categories have illustrated a desperate need to further research in regional and national levels. Also the gathered data can be used to make more accurate programs for a better control of cancer and to help policymakers to allocate more evidence-based resource for hospitals

Clinical evaluation of disc battery ingestion in children

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics, management, and outcomes of disc battery ingestion in children. We reviewed the medical records of children admitted to Mofid Children's Hospital due to disc battery ingestion from January 2006 to January 2010. Clear history, clinical symptoms and results of imaging studies revealed diagnosis of disc battery ingestion in suspected patients. The clinical data reviewed included age, gender, clinical manifestation, radiologic findings, location of disc battery, duration of ingestion, endoscopic results and surgical treatment. We found 22 cases [11 males and 11 females] of disc battery ingestion with a mean age of 4.3 years [range: 9 months to 12 years]. Common symptoms were vomiting, cough, dysphagia, and dyspnea. The mean duration of ingestion was 2.7 days [4 hours to 1.5 months]. A total of 19 patients had histories of disc battery ingestion, but three cases referred with the above symptoms, and the batteries were accidentally found by x-ray. Only three cases had batteries impacted in the esophagus. Twelve batteries were removed endoscopically, 6 batteries spontaneously passed through the gastrointestinal [GI] tract within 5 to 7 days, and 4 patients underwent surgery due to complications: 3 due to tracheo-esophageal fistula [TEF] and 1 due to intestinal perforation. There was no mortality in our study. Most cases of disc battery ingestion run uneventful courses, but some may be complicated. If the battery lodges in the esophagus, emergency endoscopic management is necessary. However, once in the stomach, it will usually pass through the GI tract

Abdominal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: report on four cases and review of literature

The Abdominal Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor [AIMT] is a rare tumor with unknown etiology which usually occurs in children and adolescents. It is composed of myofibroblastic spindle cells intermixed with inflammatory cells. We present four cases of AIMT. We herein present four cases of AIMT in different ages [range: 3.5 to 13 years] and in different organs [stomach, periduodenal, mesenteric, and colon]. There were two females and two males. The main symptoms were abdominal pain/mass/obstruction, vomiting, and weight loss. In all four patients, diagnosis was made by laparatomy and pathologic examination of excised mass lesion. Three patients underwent complete excision and no residual disease was present, one patient received chemotherapy due to tumor recurrences. The patients were followed up in average for four years. As the imaging and laboratory tests are non-specific, the diagnosis of AIMT is rarely made before surgery. AIMT should, therefore, be considered when a mass arises in an unusual location in the pediatric age group. Complete surgical resection should be performed whenever possible and the child should be kept on long-term follow-up

Penile agenesis: report on 8 cases and review of literature

Penile agenesis [PA] is an extremely rare anomaly with profound urological and psychological consequences. The opening of the urethra could be either over the pubis or at any point on perineum or most frequently in anterior wall of the rectum. The aim of treatment is an early female gender assignment and feminizing reconstruction of the perineum. We report 8 cases of penile agenesis with urination and defecation through the rectum, apparently normal scrotum, bilateral descended testis, normally located anus, urethral opening in anus, 46xy karyotype and associated anomalies. In 2 cases parents refused any surgical interventions, but in 6 cases we did perform different operations [transforming five cases to females and one case to male gender]. We recommend feminizing operations in newborns or infants, but in older patients, regarding the child's psychology, it is advised to perform masculinizing operations, and finally, no surgical intervention should be undertaken before counseling the parents

Tracheomalacia after esophageal replacement: role of aortopexy

Diffuse malacia of the airway is a rare condition; no definite incidence rates are available. It can be associated with a variety of congenital anomalies, but internal compression by an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube also may be the culprit. We describe a one-year-old boy with tracheomalacia that developed after a gastric pull-up procedure for esophageal replacement due to esophageal atresia. After being under mechanical ventilation for 28 days and impossible to extubate, he improved dramatically after performing aortopexy