Surgical disease of the pancreas

Abstract

Abdominal trauma and biliary tract disorders are the most common causes of pancreatitis in childhood. Pancreatitis in the pediatric age group, although uncommon, can be associated with serious morbidity and mortality that the condition should be taken as a surgical emergency when they present themselves with the symptomatology of pancreatitis. Inappropriate elevation of insulin concentration in the presence of hypoglycemia-previously called as nesidioblastosis, a condition of islet cell proliferation-is an important cause of persistent hypoglycemia in infancy and childhood. The disease should be considered as a medical emergency. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive medical treatment followed by surgical intervention, especialy for newborn babies are essential if permanent brain damage is to be avoided. Pancreatic neoplasms can be endocrin or exocrin, benign or malignant. The diagnosis of the endocrin tumors depends on the clinical syndromes due to secretion of special substances from islet cells of the pancreas. Carcinoma of the pancreas originates from the ductal system. Primary resection of pancreatic lesion is the treatment of choice. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45 Suppl: 59-61)