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Background A large cohort of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors exist. With patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care, practitioners should be aware of potential complications. The aim of this study was to describe the long-term complications of patients who had staging laparotomy for the treatment of HL. Methods After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review of hospital records at our institution was performed. Data extracted included demographics, treatment course and long-term postoperative complications. Results 24 patients with HL underwent staging laparotomy from 1971 to 1994 with median follow-up of 27.9 years. Six (33%) had intraabdominal disease. Three patients (17%) required four repeat laparotomies for bowel obstruction. Of these, one had radiation to the inguinal region for local control, one had mantle radiation. Five patients developed a second malignancy. There were no documented cases of postsplenectomy sepsis. Other late effects that were unlikely related to surgery included pulmonary fibrosis (4), heart failure (2), hypothyroidism (4), and dysphagia (3). One patient died of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Conclusions Long-term follow-up of patients who underwent staging laparotomy for HL revealed an increased incidence of repeat laparotomy and secondary malignancy. This underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion and screening in this population. Level of Evidence Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Posterior mediastinal masses have widely variant presentations and a broad differential diagnosis. We describe an adolescent boy presenting with a posterior mediastinal mass, associated with abdominal pain and pleural effusion. Radiologic, operative, and pathologic findings are reviewed. This patient was found to have torsion of an extralobar pulmonary sequestration, of which only 2 other cases have been reported in the literature. Although radiologic findings of a systemic arterial supply to the mass may be absent, with patients presenting with this constellation of symptoms, a high index of suspicion of a sequestration should be maintained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield versus complications from endoscopy in children after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Design: Data from 191 patients were reviewed, then separated into procedures within the first 100 days after HSCT (when the risks for complications and prevalence of acute graft-versus-host disease [GVHD] are highest) and those performed beyond 100 days. Results: Visible endoscopic lesions were found in 63 of 198 (32%) esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) and 36 of 220 (16%) sigmoidoscopies. Acute GVHD was present in 38 of 121 (31%) biopsy specimens from EGDs within the first 100 days, 15 of 73 (21%) samples from EGDs after 100 days, 52 of 136 (38%) sigmoid biopsy specimens before 100 days, and in 25 of 82 (31%) samples after 100 days. Non-GVHD histologic abnormalities were present in 36 of 124 (29%) biopsy samples from EGDs before 100 days, 32 of 74 (43%) specimens after 100 days, 14 of 136 (10%) sigmoid specimens before 100 days, and 11 of 84 (13%) samples beyond 100 days. Complications: Complications occurred in 13 procedures (3.1%): 8 (4.2%) EGDs, 4 (2.0%) sigmoidoscopies, and 1 (5.5%) colonoscopy. Intestinal bleeding occurred in 12 of the 13 procedures. Thrombocytopenia was a statistically significant association (p < 0.01). One death occurred after splenic flexure perforation. Conclusions: GI abnormalities other than acute GVHD occurred in children after HSCT. Acute GVHD was diagnosed most commonly on sigmoid biopsy. Postprocedure hemorrhage was related to thrombocytopenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]