Using Tissue Expanders as a Choice for the Treatment of Congenital Facial Nevus in the Young Child.

OBJECTIVE: One of the principal objectives in treatment of facial nevus is to minimize psychological damage and encourage the child's schooling by the best possible cosmetic result. There are several therapeutic techniques: grafts, flaps, dermal regenerator, and tissue expanders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 10 patients with facial nevus higher than 10 cm treated in the past 8 years. Our treatment protocol includes serial expander implant to remove everything that does not involve the eyelid and nasal pyramid. Ten patients were included, between 8 and 36 months of age. A median of 4 (2-6) surgeries were conducted, and the number of implanted expanders was 1 to 3 in each session. There were only minor complications in two patients, infection that responded to antibiotic therapy and minimal dehiscence of incision forcing resuturing. The median follow-up was 1.6 (1.3-3.4) years. CONCLUSION: Tissue expansion has become in recent years the treatment of choice for facial nevus in children, obtaining the best aesthetic result because the defect is covered with similar characteristics in color, texture, and relief skin. It is essential that the reconstruction is done by specialized units and we recommend complete surgical excision before starting school.

[Testicular tumours in children: Indications for testis-sparing surgery]. / Tumores testiculares en la edad pediátrica: indicaciones de la cirugía conservadora.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although standard surgical treatment of a testicular tumour is orchiectomy, use can be made of testis-sparing surgery in selected cases, based on tumour markers, tumour size, and histopathological findings. Our objective is to become acquainted with the indications of testis-sparing surgery as a treatment for the incidental finding of a palpable and non-palpable testicular mass. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 22 patients younger than 18 years diagnosed with a testicular tumour between 2000 and 2014. An assessment was made of the condition, the history, ultrasound, histopathology, tumour markers (BHCG, AFP), therapeutic approach, and outcome. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients (10 prepubertal age) studied, 82% had palpable mass, and 18% were incidental findings. Two had cryptorchidism. The BHCG was increased in 27% and AFP in 45% of cases. There were 18 tumorectomies and 4 orchiectomies performed. The histopathology found 72% germ cell, 14 orchiectomy, and 2 tumorectomies (2 teratomas), with 27% non-germ cell tumours in 4 orchiectomies and 2 tumorectomies (2 cells of Leydig). Six patients received post-surgical chemotherapy (mixed tumours). The median tumour size was 1 (0.4-1.5) cm in tumorectomies, and 2.5 (0.5-14) cm in orchiectomies. The mean follow-up was 5 (1-15) years. One patient died due to metastatic disease. There was no local recurrence in the follow up of the tumorectomies. CONCLUSIONS: A change in the trend of our therapeutic approach is demonstrated. We propose that testis-sparing surgery is indicated in prepubertal patients who meet the benignity criteria of the testicular mass (small size and negative tumour markers).

Surgical Emergencies in Intestinal Venous Malformations.

BACKGROUND: Venous malformations (VMs) can occur in any part of the body; however, the gastrointestinal tract is a frequent location. These are usually asymptomatic, thus, representing a challenge to diagnosis. Intestinal location of VMs can be associated with severe complications that ultimately require an emergency surgery. Our aim was to analyze all patients with an intestinal VM with special focus on those who required emergency surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients presenting complication caused by intestinal VM was performed. Clinical records, associated anomalies, physical findings, and treatment were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients had a diagnosis of intestinal VM, 16 (76%) were associated to blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) and 5 (24%) were isolated. Only four (19%) of the total cases presented an episode of acute abdomen with hemodynamic instability that required an emergency surgery. Findings included two gastrointestinal bleedings, one volvulus, and one intussusception of small bowel. All patients underwent an uneventful recovery and are presently doing well. CONCLUSION: Intestinal VM can be challenging to diagnose in emergency situations, such as gastrointestinal situation or acute abdomen. The complications associated with it must be kept in mind, regardless of its low incidence.