Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDC) are the most common type of congenital developmental anomaly encountered in the anterior midline of the neck in childhood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of TGDC and identify any factors that could be related to recurrence after surgery. This study consisted of a retrospective chart review of 45 patients treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital for TGDC between 1990 and 2008. All records were reviewed for age and sex, length of history, presentation, diagnostic methods, sizes and locations of cyst, surgical management, histopathology of the lesion and recurrences. The statistical analysis of risk factors for recurrence was made using the Fisher's exact test with a significance level of p < 0.05. The male to female ratio was 2.2:1 with a male preponderance. The mean age at operation was 5 years and 2 months (4 months – 17 years). The most common presenting symptom was a nontender cervical mass (78%). Most TGDC were found in the midline position. Twenty four were infrahyoid, 17 were hyoid, and 4 were suprahyoid level. Forty one (91%) patients received the Sistrunk operation, and 4(9%) patients received cyst excision. Postoperative a seroma developed in six patients in the early postoperative days. There were a total of 3(6.6%) recurrences, 2 in patients who had excision only and in one patient who had the Sistrunk operation. Univariate analysis for risk factors with recurrence showed that there was no statistical relationship between the presence of preoperative infection and the development of recurrence. The removal of hyoid bone along with TGDC was a statistically significant risk factor for recurrent disease. This study suggests that the Sistrunk operation is the treatment of choice for TGDC in order to reduce recurrence.

The survival rate for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has significantly improved after the introduction of combined multimodality treatment. We report the 20-year treatment outcome of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma in a single institution. The medical records of 16 patients treated for rhabdomyosarcoma between December 1986 and August 2007 at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. Mean age at diagnosis was 7.1 years (range: 1.3-14.2 years). Retroperitoneum was the most common primary site (n=7, 43.8%), and embryonal type was predominant (n=11, 6%). Before the treatment, most patients were in advanced TNM stage (stage III 50%, IV; 25%). The patient distribution according to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Clinical Grouping System (IRS-CGS) was as follows; Group I 31.3%, Group II 12.5%, Group III 31.3% and Group IV 25%. Patients were classified into three groups according to the extent of resection of the primary tumor; complete resection (CR, n=5; 31.3%), gross total resection (GTR, n=7; 43.8%) and incomplete resection (IR, n=4; 25%). Recurrence was observed in 9 patients (56.3%) while there was no recurrence in CR patients. All patients with recurrence were identified as moderate or high-risk according to the IRS-V Risk Group. Pre-treatment TNM stage of RMS in our institution was advanced with aggressive clinical feature, however post-surgical conditions according to IRS-CGS were similar to the previous reports by IRS. This suggests that down-staging of IRS-CGS was achieved with multimodality treatment with CR or GTR. It also suggests that complete resection is the most important prognostic factor in the treatment of RMS in children. Patients classified as moderate or high-risk need close follow-up due to high recurrence rate. In case of localized recurrence, better outcome may be achieved with multimodality treatment including limited surgery.

To evaluate the clinical findings of the recurrent intussusception. 351 patients with 445 intussusceptions were reviewed. Recurrence rate, pattern of recurrence, reducibility, pathologic lead points (PLP), and operative findings and long term follow up of the multiple recurrences were analyzed. Of 351 patients, 303 had no recurrence, 26 had one recurrence, and 22 had multiple recurrences. Over all recurrence rate was 16.4% ; 18.5% were managed by air reduction, 16.2% by barium reduction and 5.9% by operation. Elven PLPs were proved operatively operatively and an additional 6 suspected PLPs were depicted radiologically. The most frequent PLP was ileal lymphoid hyperplasia. Intervals between reduction and recurrence were less than 2 weeks in 31 cases, between 2 weeks and 1 year in 55, and more than 1 year in 8. The longest interval was 2 years and 4 months.