Vitelline duct pathologies in neonates

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the management of pediatric cases of vitelline duct pathology (VDP) detected surgically or incidentally during the neonatal period and the outcomes.METHODS: The data of newborns who were symptomatic and underwent VDP resection or who were incidentally diagnosedwith VDP at a single institution between 1985 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of age, sex, clinical features,treatment, perioperative findings, ectopic tissue pathology, and postoperative follow-up information.RESULTS: Among the 36 newborns enrolled in this study, 26 were male and 10 were female (2.6:1). The median weightwas 2400 g (range: 800–3090 g). In 16 cases (14 males and 2 females; 7:1) the VDP was surgically repaired. Pathologicalevaluation indicated that 43% (n=7) of the cases had ectopic gastric mucosa. VDP was incidentally discovered in 12 malesand 8 females (1.5:1). VDP was removed in 10 cases (50%) and left intact in others. Ectopic gastric mucosa was observed in10% of the VDP removal cases. Ectopic gastric tissue was more prevalent in the surgical VDP cases than in the incidentallydiscovered and VDP removal cases (p