Feasibility and Safety of Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy in Children: Special Emphasis on Neoplastic Lesions

Laparoscopic Transperitoneal Adrenalectomy for Adrenal Tumors in Children: Technical Considerations and Surgical Experience

Aims: This study aimed to review our surgical experience of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for adrenal masses in the pediatric age group. Materials and Methods: The electronic medical records of all patients younger than 18 years of age who underwent LA between 2016 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Children with adrenal tumors localized to the site of origin without evidence of encasement of major vasculature or involvement of adjacent organs were considered for LA. Patients with diagnosis of malignant adrenal tumor on preoperative work-up underwent open adrenalectomy. Data were collected regarding demography, clinical presentation, hormonal workup, imaging, duration of surgery, transfusion requirement, conversion rate, postoperative recovery, duration of intravenous (i.v.) analgesia and hospital stay, pathology, complications, and status at follow-up. Results: Between 2016 and 2023, LA adrenalectomy was performed in 11 patients (6 boys and 5 girls) with a mean age of 46.3 (8-120) months. A functional tumor was detected in 6 (54.5%) children, manifesting clinically with Cushing's syndrome (3), virilization (1), feminization (1), or Conn's syndrome (1). Seven (63.6%) tumors originated from the right adrenal, and 4 (36.4%) from the left adrenal gland. The mean tumor weight and size was 49.1 (10-80) g and 5.6 (3-8) cm, respectively. Histopathology included adrenal adenoma (5), ganglioneuroma (3), ganglioneuroblastoma (1), myelolipoma (1), and intermediate adrenocortical tumor (1). The mean surgery duration was 186.6 (120-265) minutes. Intraoperative blood transfusion was required in 2 (18.2%) patients and none required conversion. Full feeds were resumed at 42.7 (24-60) hours, i.v. analgesia requirement was for 54.5 (36-72) hours and mean hospital stay was 5.1 (3-8) days. All patients were symptom-free with no recurrence at mean follow-up period of 50.6 (3-83) months. Conclusions: In children with well-circumscribed, localized, and noninvasive adrenal tumors, LA is feasible, effective, and safe with all advantages of minimally invasive surgery.

Laparoscopic approach of pediatric adrenal tumors

PURPOSE

To analyze the role of laparoscopic surgery for the management of pediatric adrenal tumors (AT).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of children diagnosed with AT, operated laparoscopically during 2003-2020. The strategy differed according to tumor extension. AT < 6 cm were resected. Locally advanced tumors (L2) or > 6 cm were biopsied.

RESULTS

N = 28. Complete tumor resection (R0) in 20 (71%), tumor biopsy in 8 (R2). Age (median): 28.8 months (2 months-18 years). 14/28 left-sided, 2 bilateral. Median operating time: 78 min (45-180). Mean tumor size (for resections): 4 cm (2.5-6). Tumor pathology: neuroblastoma (n = 17), Ganglioneuroma (n = 7), Adrenocortical carcinoma (n = 1), Osteosarcoma metastasis (n = 1), Pheochromocytoma (n = 1), Venous malformation (n = 1). Mean hospital stay: 2.5 days (1-3). Mean follow up: 65.5 months (24-192). Overall survival and event-free survival were 86 and 75%, respectively (5 years event-free survival for neuroblastoma: 33% [intermediate risk], 16.6% [high risk]. No surgery-related mortality.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery for adrenal tumors is safe. Laparoscopic biopsy is useful for unresectable tumors when a percutaneous approach is not possible. With the proposed selection criteria, the laparoscopic approach should be the first option for resection of small and localized AT in pediatrics.

Laparoscopic surgery for stage III neuroblastoma: A case report

Laparoscopic surgery for malignant solid tumors is still in the stage of clinical exploration. Neuroblastoma is a common solid tumor in children. The present study discussed significance and feasibility of complete resection of stage III neuroblastoma by laparoscopic surgery and its safety and effectiveness was compared with traditional surgery. For children suffering from neuroblastoma with large tumor volume and vascular invasion, preoperative chemotherapy can be given and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery can be one option to be considered when the tumor volume is <6 cm. During the operation, the tumor tissue can be removed by segmental resection and the removal of as much tumor tissue as possible is an important factor in improving the prognosis. Laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery is associated with minimal surgical trauma and quick recovery of patients, and children can receive postoperative chemotherapy as early as possible, which is conducive to good recovery. Basically, the prerequisite and requirements for performing this operation are professional laparoscopic skills and an experienced team.

Are There Any Limiting Factors of Minimally Invasive Adrenalectomy in Children? Over 20-Year Single-Center Experience

<b> Introduction:</b> Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is more widely recognized as a valuable treatment method for benign and malignant tumours. </br></br> <b>Aim:</b> This study reviews over 20-year experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children in Central-West Poland. </br></br> <b>Materials and methods:</b> During the last 21 years, 5041 laparoscopic procedures were performed, among them 39 adrenalectomies in children aged from 2 days to 17 years. The following data were analysed: patient's age at diagnosis and surgery, lesion volume in CT/MRI examination, duration of surgery, the incidence of complication after surgery, and length of hospitalization. </br></br> <b>Results:</b> The volume of adrenal lesion visualized by CT or MRI before surgery varied from 0.5 cm3 up to 490 cm3, with a median of 14 cm3. As many as 80% of adrenalectomies allowed radical removal of the lesion and 92% of those procedures were performed without any complications. From all data analysed, only age, both at diagnosis and at surgery, was significantly lower in patients with a malignant lesion. </br></br> <b>Conclusions:</b> Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a valuable method to use in paediatric patients for both benign and malignant adrenal lesions. However, in patients with malignant adrenal lesions it may be expected that the procedure will be more difficult due to the lower age and larger lesion size.

Surgical Approaches to Neuroblastoma: Review of the Operative Techniques

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most commonly occurring soft-tissue malignancy of childhood. Surgery plays an important role in multidisciplinary treatment and its principal aim is a local control of the disease, respecting the integrity of the surrounding structures. There is no unanimous consensus on the best surgical technique, and the operative approach largely depends on the anatomical location and the extension of the mass. To have a complete overview of the different type of treatment, we made a review of the literature from the last twenty years of all the surgical approaches applied for NBs resection, accordingly to the anatomical site.

Minimally invasive surgery for abdominal and thoracic neuroblastic tumors: A systematic review by the APSA Cancer committee

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery has broad applicability to pediatric diseases, including pediatric cancer resection. Neuroblastic tumors of childhood are highly variable in presentation, and so careful selection of appropriate candidates for minimally invasive resection is paramount to achieving safe and durable surgical and oncological outcomes.

METHODS

The American Pediatric Surgical Association Cancer Committee developed questions seeking to better define the role of minimally invasive surgery for neuroblastic tumors. A search using PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations, and Clinical Trials was performed for articles published from 1998 to 2018 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines.

RESULTS

The evidence identified is all retrospective in nature. Minimally invasive surgical resection of neuroblastic tumors is safe for carefully selected smaller (4-6 cm) image defined risk factor (IDRF)-negative abdominal tumors when oncologic principles are followed. Size is a less-well defined criterion for thoracic neuroblastic tumors. Open approaches for both abdominal and thoracic tumors may be preferable in the presence of IDRF's.

CONCLUSION

Small tumors without IDRF's are reasonable candidates for minimally invasive resection. Surgical oncologic guidelines should be closely followed. The quality of data supporting this systematic review is poor and highlights the need for refinement in the study of such surgical techniques to improve knowledge and outcomes for patients with neuroblastic tumors.

TYPE OF STUDY

Systematic Review.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III and Level IV.

[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign adrenal tumors in pediatric surgical practice]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the results of minimally invasive adrenalectomy in children and compare our data with worldwide results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 65 patients aged from 3 months to 17 years with different organic diseases of adrenal glands. Children have undergone surgery for the period since 2003 to 2018.

RESULTS

Incidentalomas accounted 33.8% of all resected tumors. Bilateral lesion was diagnosed in 12% of patients. The largest neoplasm (12 cm) was diagnosed in a 9-year-old child. Intraoperative bleeding occurred in 2 patients. Endoscopic surgery did not require conversion in any case.

CONCLUSION

We accumulated unique experience of laparoscopic resection of benign lesions of adrenal glands. Our results are satisfactory and comparable with data of other national and foreign colleagues. Only close collaboration of pediatric surgeons and endocrinologists could lead to successful and safe treatment of these patients. Patients with suspected malignancies should receive treatment at special hospitals with oncological service.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children: A 25-case series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the gold standard and is widely performed in adults, but its use in children is relatively new. We aim to present our experience in twenty-five children with diverse adrenal pathologies and to discuss an extensive review of pediatric LA in English literature.

METHODS

Medical records of children with adrenal tumors admitted to a tertiary center and treated with LA were reviewed. Characteristics and outcome of patients were compared with results of a systematic Pubmed/Medline literature review.

RESULTS

Transperitoneal LAs were performed for 12 malignant and 14 benign adrenal masses (size range: 2-8cm) in 25 children (median age:63months). Fourteen lesions were on the right side, and there was one bilateral case. There were no conversion and no complication within 36months of follow-up. A literature review revealed 437 pediatric LAs with left side predomination (51.4%). The indication was a malignant lesion in 60.2% of the cases (sizes range: 1-10cm). The transperitoneal route was preferred in 94.2% of the procedures. Conversion and complication rates were 7.5% and 3.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LA should be preferred in selected children with adrenal pathologies. The transperitoneal route seems to be the standard approach for pediatric surgeons. Preoperative planning and surgical expertise are the keys to success.

TYPE OF THE STUDY

Case series with systematic literature review.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Comparison of long-term prognosis of laparoscopic and open adrenalectomy for local adrenal neuroblastoma in children

OBJECTIVE

To investigate and compare long-term outcomes in children undergoing laparoscopic or open adrenalectomy for local adrenal neuroblastoma.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of 37 children with local adrenal neuroblastoma treated between January 2005 and December 2013 in our hospital. These patients met inclusion criteria for having adrenal neuroblastoma and undergoing operative resection. All patients were successfully followed up until December 2017.

RESULTS

The local adrenal neuroblastoma cases included 25 males and 12 females with an average age of 37.24 ± 37.55 months (range from 5 days to 158 months). Left adrenal lesions were present in 13 cases, the right in 24 cases. According to the INSS staging system, 27 patients were classified as stage I and 10 as stage II. Open adrenalectomy was performed in 24 patients. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed in the other 13 patients, 2 of whom were converted to open surgery because of adhesions to renal vessels and diaphragmatic rupture. Significant differences were observed between the laparoscopic surgery and open surgery groups regarding tumor size (P = 0.005). There were two recurrence cases in open surgery, but there was no recurrence in laparoscopic surgery. The average follow-up time was 86.78 ± 24.52 months. The overall 5-year survival rate of open and laparoscopic surgery were 86.2 and 100% (P = 0.316).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for neuroblastoma is feasible and can be performed with equivalent recurrence and mortality rates with open resection. For small tumor size and absence of vascular encasement, the adrenal neuroblastoma may be preferred laparoscopic surgery.

Bilateral Adrenalectomy in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

Management of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) involves suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis using supraphysiological doses of exogenous glucocorticoids. This can pose a challenge, with Cushing syndrome a frequent complication of adequate suppression. Bilateral adrenalectomy, with subsequent replacement of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids at physiological doses, has been proposed as an alternative therapeutic strategy.

OBJECTIVE

To review the outcomes after bilateral adrenalectomy for CAH.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science, identifying relevant reports published up to 10 January 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

Case reports or case series were included if they reported individual patient data from patients with CAH who had undergone bilateral adrenalectomy.

DATA EXTRACTION

Information regarding the following was extracted: first author, country, sex, age at adrenalectomy, year of adrenalectomy, diagnosis, molecular abnormality, pre- and postoperative biochemistry, pre- and postoperative medications, pre- and postoperative body mass index, indication for adrenalectomy, surgical technique, gross and microscopic adrenal characteristics, follow-up duration, and short- and long-term postoperative outcomes.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We identified 48 cases of bilateral adrenalectomy for CAH, with patients aged from 4 months to 56 years at surgery. The most common indication for surgery was the inability to control hyperandrogenism/virilization and/or Cushing syndrome (n = 30; 62%). Most patients (n = 34; 71%) reported symptomatic improvement postoperatively, with some cases of short-term (n = 5; 10%) and long-term (n = 13; 27%) adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral adrenalectomy for CAH appears to be a reasonable therapeutic option for carefully selected patients who have had unsatisfactory outcomes with conventional medical management.

Contraindications and image-defined risk factors in laparoscopic resection of abdominal neuroblastoma

PURPOSE

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become widely accepted as a technique for abdominal neuroblastoma resection. However, the indications for MIS are still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate image-defined risk factors (IDRFs), complications, and oncologic outcomes in patients with abdominal neuroblastomas treated with MIS.

METHODS

Between August 1998 and February 2016, MIS was planned for 20 children with abdominal neuroblastomas. Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the IDRF-negative and IDRF-positive patients.

RESULTS

On the basis of the latest IDRF guidelines, five patients were classified as IDRF-positive and four of them had operative complications; namely, partial infarction of the ipsilateral kidney or open conversion. Concerning the two patients who needed open conversion, the primary reason for open conversion was difficulty in dissection of the tumor from the vena cava. Preoperative images of these cases showed either deformation or subtotal encasement of the vena cava. Relapse occurred in three high-risk patients and in none of the low/intermediate-risk patients. No complication occurred in the IDRF-negative cases.

CONCLUSIONS

IDRF-negative might be a good indication for MIS for abdominal neuroblastoma. However, deformation or subtotal encasement of the vena cava should be considered as IDRF-positive for MIS.

Transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children

Purpose:

The use of a minimally invasive approach for adrenalectomy is poorly defined in pediatric patients, although laparoscopic adrenalectomy is considered a standard procedure in adults. The aim of our study was to describe the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive adrenalectomy in children on the basis of surgical skills and results.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study of 4 pediatric laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed at our center between 2009 and 2012. All patients underwent transperitoneal lateral laparoscopic adrenalectomies (2 right and 2 left adrenalectomies).

Results:

Four laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed. Indications for surgery were neuroblastoma in 2 patients, secernent adrenocortical tumor in 1 patient, and adrenocortical nodular hyperplasia in 1 patient. Patients had a mean age of 87 months (range, 17–156 months) at diagnosis, and the average lesion size was 3.23 cm (range, 0.7–6.4 cm). All laparoscopic adrenalectomies were successful, no conversions to open surgery were required, and no postoperative complications or deaths occurred. The average operating time was 105 minutes (range, 80–130 minutes), blood loss during surgery was minimal, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.75 days (range, 3–5 days). None of the patients showed signs of recurring disease at 15-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe, feasible, and reproducible technique offering numerous advantages, including shortening of operating times and postoperative hospital stays, as well as reduction of blood loss and complications. It also provides good visibility and easy access to other organs.

The role of minimally invasive surgery in pediatric solid tumors

During recent years, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become the standard approach for various operations in infants and children. MIS in pediatric thoracic and abdominal tumors is a controversial approach in the surgical management of childhood cancer. Meanwhile, more and more oncological biopsies and resections are being performed laparoscopically or thoracoscopically. Despite its increasing role in pediatric tumor surgery, the different national and international multicenter trial groups have not yet implemented MIS within guidelines and recommendations in most of the current treatment protocols. An increasing number of retrospective reports describes a potential role of MIS in the management of different pediatric oncological entities. Over the time, there has been a diverse development of this approach with regard to the different neoplasms. Nevertheless, there is a lack of prospective randomized trails assessing MIS. This still represents a requirement for evidence-based medicine and judging the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. The purpose of this state-of-the-art article is to review the current literature to describe the application of MIS in pediatric solid tumors.

Minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for the treatment of solid abdominal and thoracic neoplasms in children

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an accepted surgical technique for the treatment of a variety of benign diseases. Presently, the use of MIS in patients with cancer is progressing. However, the role of MIS in children with solid neoplasms is less clear than it is in adults. Although the use of diagnostic MIS to obtain biopsy specimens for pathology is accepted in paediatric surgical oncology, there is limited evidence to support the use of MIS for the resection of malignancies. This review is the second update of a previously published Cochrane review.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain differences in outcome between the minimally invasive and open surgical approaches for the treatment of solid intra-abdominal or intra-thoracic neoplasms in children. The primary outcomes of interest are OS, EFS, port-site metastases and recurrence rate; the secondary outcome of interest is surgical morbidity.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2014, Issue 1), MEDLINE/PubMed (from 1966 to February 2014) and EMBASE/Ovid (from 1980 to February 2014) to identify relevant studies. In addition, we searched reference lists of relevant articles and reviews and the conference proceedings of the International Society for Paediatric Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology from 2003 to 2013. On 1 May 2014 we scanned the ISRCTN Register (on www.controlled-trials.com), the National Institutes of Health register (on www.controlled-trials.com and www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (on www.apps.who.int/trialsearch) for ongoing trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing MIS to open surgery for the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children (aged 0 to 18 years) were considered for inclusion.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors performed the study selection independently.

MAIN RESULTS

The literature search retrieved 542 references. After screening the titles and abstracts we excluded 534 references which clearly did not meet the inclusion criteria. We assessed eight full text studies for eligibility and all of these studies were excluded from the review because they were not RCTs or CCTs. These excluded studies included case series, retrospective chart reviews and retrospective cohort studies. The scanning of reference lists and conference proceedings did not identify any additional studies and no (ongoing trials) were identified by the searches of trial registries. No studies that met the inclusion criteria of this review were identified

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

No RCTs or CCTs evaluating MIS for the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children could be identified. The current evidence base informing the use of MIS in children with solid abdominal and thoracic neoplasms is based on other study designs like case reports, retrospective chart reviews and cohort studies and should be interpreted with caution. Thus there is insufficient evidence to allow any definitive conclusions regarding the use of MIS in these patients. High quality RCTs comparing MIS to open surgery are required. To accomplish this, centres specialising in MIS in children should collaborate.

Minimally invasive surgery in the management of abdominal tumors in children

The application of minimally invasive surgical techniques to pediatric abdominal tumors is a controversial application towards the surgical management of childhood cancer. Although general pediatric surgeons practice minimally invasive surgery techniques in a vast array of abdominal cases, its role in pediatric oncology is still developing, with no consensus in North America about its use for pediatric solid abdominal tumors. The purposes of this article are to review the current literature about the use of minimally invasive surgery in pediatric abdominal oncology and to examine established indications, procedures and technologic advances.

Clinical outcomes in children with adrenal neuroblastoma undergoing open versus laparoscopic adrenalectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic resection of adrenal neuroblastoma has become a common alternative to open surgery. Prior reports have largely focused on short-term operative complications. This study compares long-term oncologic outcomes in children undergoing laparoscopic or open adrenalectomy for neuroblastoma.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients at a single center met inclusion criteria for having adrenal neuroblastoma and undergoing operative resection. Patients were assigned to high or low/intermediate (L/I) risk groups based upon Children's Oncology Group (COG) trial enrollment. Criteria for laparoscopic resection were absence of vascular encasement and size ≤ 5 cm in greatest dimension. Comparison between open versus laparoscopic groups was performed by Wilcoxon ranked-sum and Fisher's exact test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models analyzed the primary outcomes of mortality and recurrence.

RESULTS

In the L/I risk category (N=30) there was one non-neuroblastoma related death in the open cohort. Six of 7 patients in the High risk Group who underwent laparoscopic resection had favorable outcomes. Only higher tumor stage (Hazard Ratio 8.455, P=0.01) and earlier tumor recurrence were associated with increased mortality (Hazards Ratio 0.932, P=0.0002). Among patients who met selection criteria for laparoscopic surgery there was no difference in mortality or recurrence rates between High risk and L/I risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic resection of adrenal neuroblastoma is feasible and can be performed with equivalent recurrence and mortality rates in L/I risk patients and selected High risk patients. These data suggest that laparoscopic resection of adrenal neuroblastoma should be considered in patients who meet selection criteria, irrespective of risk group categorization.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children

PURPOSE

Reporting on the laparoscopic technique for adrenal disease in children and adolescents has been limited. We review here our experience with laparoscopic adrenal surgery in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

19 laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomies were performed in 10 girls and 7 boys (mean age 3.9 years) during 1998-2011. The clinical diagnosis before surgery was virilizing tumor (n = 8), pheochromocytoma (n = 3), nonfunctioning solid adrenal tumor (n = 3), mixed adrenocortical tumor (n = 2), cystic adrenal mass (n = 1). Unilateral adrenal lesions were 20-65 mm at the longest axis on computerized tomography (12 right side, 7 left side).

RESULTS

The final clinicopathological diagnosis was cortical adenoma (n = 9), pheochromocytoma (n = 3, bilateral in two), neuroblastoma (n = 1), ganglioneuroblastoma (n = 1), ganglioneuroma (n = 1), adrenocortical carcinoma (n = 1), benign adrenal tissue (n = 1). Average operative time was 138.5 min (range 95-270). Blood transfusion was required in one case (5%). No conversion to open surgery was required and no deaths or postoperative complications occurred. Average hospital stay was 3.5 days (range 2-15). Average postoperative follow-up was 81 months (range 2-144). Two contralateral metachronic pheochromocytomas associated with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome occurred, treated with partial laparoscopic adrenalectomy (one without postoperative need of cortisone replacement therapy).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a feasible procedure that produces good results. It can be used safely to treat suspected benign and malignant adrenal masses in children with minimal morbidity and short hospital stay.

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy in children

PURPOSE

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy (MIA) is the criterion standard for removal of small adrenal tumors in adults. The purpose of this review was to determine the place of MIA in children.

METHODS

The authors conducted a systematic review of the pediatric and adult literature about MIA, focusing on the technique and indications.

RESULTS

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy appears superior to open adrenalectomy for small tumors. The potential advantages of MIA are appealing for postoperative pain, risk of intestinal obstruction, and quality of scars. The most common approach is the transperitoneal lateral laparoscopy, which allows for a large working space. For small tumors or for bilateral adrenalectomy, the prone retroperitoneoscopy is a promising new technique. In children, the learning curve is an issue because the indications are rare. The most common indication is neuroblastoma without image-defined surgical risk factors. The incidence of local recurrence is low, but the follow-up is short in most cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is promising for removal of small adrenal tumors. Long-term follow-up is required to evaluate the efficacy of MIA in neuroblastomas. Benign diseases are excellent candidates for this minimally invasive technique.

Minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for the treatment of solid abdominal and thoracic neoplasms in children

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an accepted surgical technique for the treatment of a variety of benign diseases. Presently, the use of MIS in patients with cancer is progressing. However, the role of MIS in children with solid neoplasms is less clear than it is in adults. Diagnostic MIS to obtain biopsy specimens for pathology has been accepted as a technique in paediatric surgical oncology, but there is limited experience with the use of MIS for the resection of malignancies.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the differences in outcome between the minimally invasive and open approach in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal neoplasms in children, regarding overall survival, event-free survival, port-site metastases, recurrence rate and surgical morbidity.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the electronic databases of MEDLINE/PubMed (from 1966 to February 2011), EMBASE/Ovid (from 1980 to February 2011) and CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 1) with pre-specified terms. In addition, we searched reference lists of relevant articles and reviews, conference proceedings and ongoing trial databases.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing MIS and open surgery for the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children (aged 0 to 18 years).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors performed the study selection independently.

MAIN RESULTS

No studies that met the inclusion criteria of this review were identified.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

No RCTs or CCTs evaluating MIS in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children could be identified, therefore no definitive conclusions could be made about the effects of MIS in these patients. Based on the currently available evidence we are not able to give recommendations for the use of MIS in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children. More high quality studies (RCTs and/or CCTs) are needed. To accomplish this, centres specialising in MIS in children should collaborate.

Scope and limitations of minimal invasive surgery in practice of pediatric surgical oncology

Management of Solid tumors in children needs a comprehensive multimodality protocol based treatment plan. Open surgical removal of the tumors occurring in any of the sites such as abdomen, thorax, chest wall, HFN (head, face, neck), brain and extremities, is the option which has been traditionally practiced even in the present era and in most of the centers. Nevertheless with the advances in science and technology and with ever increasing usage and expertise of laparoscopy in children, it's application has extended to treatment of solid tumors in children. A review of the scope of such intervention as well as the limitations of minimal invasive surgery in this specialized field of pediatric surgery has been attempted in this article.

Laparoscopic adrenal surgery in children: Lessons from a single centre experience

PURPOSE:

Although commonly performed in adults, laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children is performed only in centres with advanced laparoscopic expertise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This is a retrospective analysis of laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed at a single centre between January 2003 and May 2010. After preoperative evaluation with biochemical assays and radiologic imaging, surgery was performed by using the lateral transabdominal approach in all patients.

RESULTS:

Ten laparoscopic adrenalectomies (including three bilateral) were performed in seven children, with a mean age of 9.6 years. The tumours ranged from 2 – 7 cms in size. The operative durations were 75 – 130 minutes (unilateral) and 250 – 270 minutes (bilateral). Operative blood loss was minimal. There were no open conversions, but terminal hand assistance was required in one large right pheochromocytoma. The postoperative hospital stay ranged from 3 – 10 days. The final pathological diagnoses included pheochromocytoma, hyperplasia and neuroblastoma. Follow-up at 24 – 87 months was uneventful.

CONCLUSION:

With adequate experience in laparoscopy, it is possible to perform adrenalectomy in selected children.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal masses in children

OBJECTIVE

The laparoscopic approach to the adrenal gland was first reported in 1992. Since then numerous studies have been published, comprising of adults. Experience with the laparoscopic technique for adrenal disease in children and adolescents has been limited. We have reviewed our experience with laparoscopic adrenal surgery in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All children with pathologic adrenal masses undergoing laparoscopic adrenal surgery were included. The primary study outcome measures included operative time, conversion to open surgery, complications, duration of hospital stay and outcome of surgery.

RESULTS

Eighteen children underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy during the period January 2003-July 2009. The mean operating time was 95 min, mean blood loss was 30 ml and the average postoperative hospital stay was 50h. There were no conversions to open surgery and no major intra- or postoperative complications noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and feasible procedure with good results. It can be used to safely treat suspected benign and malignant adrenal masses in children with minimal morbidity and a shorter hospital stay.

IPEG guidelines for the surgical treatment of adrenal masses in children

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy and adrenal biopsy are technically feasible in children. There are no absolute contraindications to the laparoscopic approach, but for neuroblastomas and other adrenal neoplasms, care must be taken to maintain the principles of cancer surgery. As opposed to adults, there are fewer benign indications for adrenalectomy, but in selected cases, laparoscopic resection of the adrenal is feasible. Both laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approaches are recommended, with the choice being dictated by the experience of the surgeon. Recommendations throughout this guideline are based on class 3 evidence, with a single article demonstrating class 2 evidence, based on a retrospective comparison.

Minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for the treatment of solid abdominal and thoracic neoplasms in children

BACKGROUND

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an accepted surgical technique for the treatment of a variety of benign diseases. Presently, the use of MIS in patients with cancer is progressing. However, the role of MIS in children with solid neoplasms is less clear than it is in adults. Diagnostic MIS to obtain biopsy specimens for pathology has been accepted as a technique in paediatric surgical oncology, but there is limited experience with the use of MIS for the resection of malignancies.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the differences in outcome between the minimally invasive and open approach in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal neoplasms in children, regarding overall survival, event-free survival, port-site metastases, recurrence rate and surgical morbidity.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the electronic databases of MEDLINE/PubMed (from 1966 to March 2008), EMBASE/Ovid (from 1980 to March 2008) and CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 1) with pre-specified terms. In addition, we searched reference lists of relevant articles and reviews, conference proceedings and ongoing trial databases.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing MIS and open surgery for the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children (aged 0 to 18 years).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors performed the study selection independently.

MAIN RESULTS

No studies that met the inclusion criteria of this review were identified.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

No RCTs or CCTs evaluating MIS in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children could be identified, therefore no definitive conclusions could be made about the effects of MIS in these patients. Based on the currently available evidence we are not able to give recommendations for the use of MIS in the treatment of solid intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal neoplasms in children. More high quality studies (RCTs and/or CCTs) are needed. To accomplish this, centres specialising in MIS in children should collaborate.