Researchers Report Benefits of New Standard Treatment Study for Rare Pediatric Brain Cancer
October 12, 2009
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL ― A team of researchers led by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center unveiled results today from the largest-ever collaborative study addressing the treatment of a rare pediatric brain tumor. The findings suggest a new standard protocol could improve survival nearly two-fold for pediatric patients with choroid plexus tumors, as reported at the 41st Annual Meeting of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP). [READ MORE…]

Doctors Use Patient's Own Stem Cells to Grow Facial Bone in Groundbreaking Procedure
October 12, 2009
CINCINNATI, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ ― In a first-of-its kind procedure, physicians have used stem cells taken from the fat tissue of a 14-year-old boy and combined them with growth protein and donor tissue to grow viable cheek bones in the teen. [READ MORE…]

Robotically assisted minimally invasive bladder reconstructive surgery on children performed
October 15, 2009
For the first time, a surgical robot has been used to perform minimally invasive reconstructive surgery on five children whose bladder was dysfunctional because they were born with spina bifida [incomplete formation of the spine or spinal cord]. [READ MORE…]

What difference can a pediatric surgeon make?

Pediatric surgeons specialize in the surgical care of children. They are surgeons who, by training, are oriented toward working with children and understanding their special needs.

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More than 50% of all child injuries are either caused or related to car or bicycle crashes.

Like Mother
Like Daughter:
Developing Safety Habits in Children and the Importance of Parents as Role Models…

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Pectus Carinatum

Protrusion deformities of the anterior chest wall are 10 times less frequent than depression deformities. Associated disorders, including congenital heart disease, Marfan’s syndrome, spine abnormalities, and musculoskeletal defects are as frequent as in patients with pectus excavatum. The deformity typically is mild or absent in early childhood and becomes increasingly prominent during the rapid growth in early adolescence.

Pectus carinatum is believed to stem from an overgrowth of rib cartilages, with forward buckling and deforming pressure on the body of the sternum. Carinatum deformities are more variable than excavatum defects, with two principle forms. In one form the protuberance is maximal in the upper portion of the sternum and the middle of the sternum is directed posteriorly. The second and more common form shows the greatest prominence in the lower portion or body of the sternum. Minor forms may exist in which rib cartilages may buckle outward without sternal deformity. Persistent discomfort may warrant removal of the protruding cartilages.

In most cases, pectus carinatum produces no symptoms beyond local tenderness or pain in the protruding portion of the chest. No heart or lung abnormalities result from this deformity, in contrast to pectus excavatum. In some cases, its association with spine abnormalities results in altered lung function. A quarter of patients will have other family members with chest deformities and musculoskeletal defects are seen in 20%.

Treatment

Variation in surgical treatment is a result of the diversity of pectus carinatum deformities. The same exposure is used as for the excavatum defects, with removal of the affected rib cartilages. The sternum is also cut to make a hinge that will allow it to be secured in a more downward position. Modifications are used for more asymmetrical abnormalities. Complications are similar to those for excavatum surgery.