Ovarian tumors in children: how common are lesion recurrence and metachronous disease? A UK CCLG Surgeons Cancer Group nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Ovarian tumors in children are rare, mature teratoma being the most common histological entity. Robust guidelines to aid patient follow-up after resection are distinctly lacking. Although mature teratoma has a very good prognosis following complete resection, small studies have reported the occurrence of metachronous disease and recurrence to a variable degree (2.5-23% of patients). Nevertheless, there are surgeons who recommend no follow-up is required for these children after primary tumor resection. We investigated the incidence of (i) recurrence and (ii) metachronous disease in pediatric patients following ovarian tumor resection.

METHODS

Retrospective multicenter study amongst UK pediatric surgical oncology centers. Females <16 years with diagnosis of ovarian tumor from 2006 to 2016 were included. Functional/neonatal ovarian cysts were excluded.

RESULTS

Three hundred ten patients with ovarian tumors treated at 12 surgical oncology centers were identified. Mean age at surgery was 11 years [IQR 8-14]. Most common diagnosis were mature teratoma (57%, 177 cases), immature teratoma (10.9%, 34 cases) and serous cystadenoma (7.7%, 24 cases). 8.1% (25 cases) of all females were identified with tumor recurrence/ metachronous disease. 5.1% (9 cases) of patients with mature teratoma had recurrent/ metachronous disease. Most of these patients were diagnosed at routine clinic follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Our study clearly shows that ovarian tumor recurrence(s) and metachronous disease occur, even in "benign" ovarian tumors. We recommend female pediatric patients should have robust follow-up care plans after primary diagnosis and resection of ovarian tumor(s).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE STATEMENT

This is a level II evidence study. It is a retrospective multicentre collaborative study which summarizes data from a national cohort of children.

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma of the colon: a case series and literature review

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma is rare and only three cases affecting the colon have previously been reported. We describe two further cases that presented in the neonatal period and were both successfully treated with surgical excision and have no evidence of recurrence or metastasis at 31 and 27 months follow-up, respectively.

Paediatric angiodysplasia of the jejunum: a case report and review of the literature

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia (GIAD) of the jejunum is a rare cause of acute upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the paediatric population. This is the case of a previously well 10-year-old girl who presented with acute rectal haemorrhage, haematemesis and syncope. Despite an exploratory laparotomy, the cause of bleeding remained unknown. A computerized tomography angiogram was performed once she was haemodynamically stable. It indicated bleeding in the jejunum. Repeat laparotomy was performed including enterotomy, copious small bowel washout and visualization of the whole small bowel. The lesion was identified at approximately 100 cm from the duodenojejunal flexure and confirmed by isolating the lesion and testing for bleeding. A 30 cm length of jejunum was resected and primary anastomosis performed. She recovered well and was discharged three days postoperatively. She remained well at six-month follow-up. This case highlights the importance of considering upper GIAD in an acute paediatric gastrointestinal bleed and the way in which surgical management can prevent a potentially fatal outcome.

Laparoscopic repair of late presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia usually presents in the neonatal period, with delayed presentation being uncommon. Traditionally repair was performed by laparotomy or thoracotomy. We have performed laparoscopic repair of a previously undiagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia that presented acutely in a 10-year-old male. Laparoscopic repair of late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a safe and effective approach even in an emergency. The laparoscopic approach has advantages including reduced hospital stay, excellent visualisation of the defect even for obese patients, and improved cosmesis.

Children's surgery performed by adult general surgeons in Scotland: the present and future

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the extent and the future of paediatric surgery performed in Scotland outside of the designated surgical paediatric centres.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 111 Scottish members of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. There was a response rate of 69%.

RESULTS

Overall, 45% of responders operated on children. This was independent of the surgeon's age but was related to the type of hospital that the surgeon worked in. Eighty-four per cent of responders had a lower age limit under which they would not operate and 94% stated that there were specific circumstances where they would not operate. A mean of 18.5 elective procedures (range 0-250, median two) and six emergency procedures (range 0-30, median five) were carried out by each surgeon operating on children under the age of five per annum. Only 13% of responders thought that their successor would operate on children.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-specialist paediatric surgery in Scotland is currently provided by a significant number of surgeons whose successors will not continue to provide a comparative paediatric service. This has implications for local provision of care, emergency management and capacity of existing children's hospitals in the future.

Surgical implications of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a syndrome of rare multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation associated with low plasma cholesterol levels. Prior to receiving the diagnosis of SLOS, affected children may present as a neonatal surgical emergency with ambiguous genitalia, Hirschsprung's disease, and pyloric stenosis. We present two fatal cases of SLOS with near-total Hirschsprung's disease; the surgical, anaesthetic, and medical aspects of the cases are discussed, and a literature review is presented.