Primary liver tumors are uncommon in childhood, with a relative frequency of 3% of childhood tumors. Seventy three cases of pediatric primary liver tumors which were operated on at single institution between 1986 and 2002 were reviewed. There were 37 cases of hepatoblastoma, 11 hepatocellular carcinomas, 6 undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcomas, and 1 mixed germ-cell tumor in malignancies. Benign tumors constitute only 24.6% of liver tumors, including 7 hemangioendotheliomas, 5 mesenchymal hamartomas, 3 congenital cysts, and one each with focal nodular hyperplasia and hemangioma. The common presenting clinical features were abdominal mass or abdominal distension. Anatomical hepatic resections were carried out in 38 cases, and non anatomical resections in 34 cases. One patient died of a direct result of hepatic resection(1.4%), and complication rate was 16.4%.
A case of primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid adenoma is presented. A 14-y-o male came in with voiding difficulty. The intravenous pyelogram (IVP) demonstrated a stone at the proximal one third of the left ureter and marked hydronephrosis of the left kidney, and the Tc-99m sestamibi nuclear scan demonstrated an hot spot below the lower pole of the left lobe of the thyroid. Laboratory study demonstrated hypercalcemia (12.4mg/dL) and elevated parathyroid hormone (143.67pg/mL). The excised parathyroid gland which was located below the lower pole of the left lobe of the thyroid, turned out to be parathyroid adenoma, consisting of mainly chief cells. Postoperatively he complained of transient hypocalcemic symptoms, which resolved by administration of calcium preparation and vitamin D.
Primary segmental volvulus of the small intestine is not associated with malrotation, malfixation of the midgut, nor other primary small bowel lesions such as small bowel tumors. This entity is known to be more prevalent in adult and in certain global areas associated with particular diet habits. There have been very few reports in neonates, but not in this country so far. The author reports two cases of primary segmental volvulus. Case 1 was a septic 4-day-old girl with hematochezia due to jejunal volvulus with partial necrosis and panperitonitis. Resection of the segment and Bishop-Koop enterostomy were successful. Case 2 was a 3-day-old boy, who had ileal volvulus with ultra-short length of ileal atresia, probably due to intrauterine segmental volvulus. Limited resection of the atresia and spreading of the mesenteric base were enough to recovery. The rarity of the pathognomonic findings and limitation of the diagnostic workup due to rapid prqgression limit early diagnosis and good survival rate in this particular condition.