Alimentary tract duplications in infancy and childhood. A 25-year experience with focus on rare types of the disease ()
ABSTRACT
Background: Alimentary tract
duplications (ATDs) are rare congenital anomalies of the gut tube, seen mainly
in neonates and infants. Their presentations are often mimicking other
conditions, thus posing a diagnostic challenge. Surgical treatment is required
in all cases. Objective: The aim of this study is to present our experience in
the diagnosis and management of this condition. Subjects and Method: We,
retrospectively, reviewed 7 duplications in 7 patients and analyzed sex, age,
clinical presentation, location, complications, diagnostic work-up, surgical
methods and post-operative course. Encountered diagnostic and surgical
difficulties were also reviewed in two extremely rare cases. Results: Patients’
age varied between 2 months and 10 years. All duplications were single. Six of
them were intra-abdominal and one thoracoabdominal Three ADTs were asymptomatic
and discovered during routine X-ray imaging. One ADT involving the cecum was
mimicking appendicitis and complicated by recurrent intussusceptions. The
thoracoabdominal one proved a surgical challenge as it was a completely
isolated ATD. All patients underwent surgery without postoperative complications.
We conclude that despite their rarity, ATDs require a high level of clinical
suspicion, especially if they are presented as thoracic masses. Appropriate
diagnostic investigation of the pediatric patients is always necessary to avoid
delay in diagnosis.
Share and Cite:
Zavras, N. , Christianakis, E. , Papakonstantinou, D. , Velaoras, K. , Tsilikas, K. and Ereikat, K. (2013) Alimentary tract duplications in infancy and childhood. A 25-year experience with focus on rare types of the disease.
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
3, 324-330. doi:
10.4236/ojped.2013.34058.