Massachusetts General Hospital | MassGeneral Hospital for Children

The Pediatric Surgery service at MassGeneral Hospital for Children is an international referral center for the complete spectrum of general and thoracic pediatric and neonatal surgical services, including the evaluation and treatment of:

• Abdominal and thoracic problems
• Pediatric hernias
• Newborn and pediatric congenital anomalies
• Skin lesions that may require surgical excision
• Airway and chest disorders requiring complex surgical reconstruction or support with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
• Minimally invasive pediatric surgery
• The Pediatric Surgery service also provides all pediatric surgical trauma services as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, and simple and complex burn care at the Shriners Hospitals for Children- Boston.

Research

The Department of Pediatric Surgery has an extensive program in basic research. Areas of focus include:

• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• Respiratory failure
• The development of fetal inhibitors as anti-cancer agents
• Intersex abnormalities and sexual differentiation
• General fetal and embryologic development
• Development of the intestine and the study of intestinal motility disorders, such as Hirschsprung's disease
• Regenerative medicine
• Tissue engineering
• Stem cell biology

Anorectal Malformations

Anorectal malformations are birth defects. With this defect, the anus and rectum do not develop properly.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-like portion of the large intestine that generally hangs down from the lower right side of the abdomen.

Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a chronic, progressive liver problem that becomes evident shortly after birth.

Birthmarks

Birthmarks are areas of discolored and/or raised skin that are apparent at birth or within a few weeks of birth. Birthmarks are made up of malformed pigment cells or blood vessels.

Branchial Cleft Abnormalities

A branchial cleft abnormality is a mass of abnormally formed tissues within the neck.

Congenital Liver Defects

Congenital liver defects are rare liver diseases present at birth such as biliary atresia, when the bile ducts are absent or have developed abnormally, and choledochal cyst, a malformation of the hepatic duct that can obstruct flow of bile in infants.

Constipation

Constipation is a condition in which a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that is a chronic condition that may recur at various times over a lifetime.

Dermoid Cyst

A dermoid cyst is a pocket or cavity under the skin that contains tissues normally present in the outer layers of the skin. The pocket forms a mass that is sometimes visible at birth or in early infancy but often is not seen until later years.

Diaphragmatic Hernia

A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect. An opening is present in the diaphragm. With this type of birth defect, some of the organs that are normally found in the abdomen move up into the chest cavity through this abnormal opening.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a term that means "difficulty swallowing." It is the inability of food or liquids to pass easily from the mouth, into the throat, and down into the esophagus to the stomach during the process of swallowing.

Encopresis

Encopresis is a problem that children four years old or older can develop due to chronic (long-term) constipation.

Exstrophy of the Bladder and Epispadias

Exstrophy of the bladder is a complex combination of disorders that occurs during fetal development. The disorder usually involves many systems in the body, including the urinary tract, skeletal muscles and bones, and the digestive system.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) / Heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that is caused by gastric acid flowing from the stomach into the esophagus.

Head Injury

A head injury is a broad term that describes a vast array of injuries that occur to the scalp, skull, brain, and underlying tissue and blood vessels in the head.

Hirschsprung's Disease

Hirschsprung's disease occurs when some of the nerve cells that are normally present in the intestine do not form properly while a baby is developing during pregnancy.

Hydrocele

A hydrocele occurs from an accumulation of fluid in the tunica vaginalis (a thin pouch that holds the testes within the scrotum).

Hypospadias

Hypospadias is a malformation that affects the urethral tube and the foreskin on a male's penis. It is a disorder that primarily affects male newborns.

Inguinal Hernia

A hernia occurs when a section of intestine protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal muscles. A hernia that occurs in the groin area is called an inguinal hernia.

Lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy is the term for swelling of the lymph nodes - the bean-shaped organs found in the underarm, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen that act as filters for the lymph fluid as it circulates through the body.

Lymphatic Malformations

A lymphatic malformation is a mass in the head or neck that results from an abnormal formation of lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic malformations are sometimes seen in children with certain chromosome abnormalities and genetic conditions.

Meckel's Diverticulum

Meckel's diverticulum is a small pouch in the wall of the intestine, near the junction of the small and large intestines. It is the most common birth defect of the digestive system.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal illness in babies.

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor that begins in nerve tissue of infants and very young children.

Omphalocele

An omphalocele is a birth defect, in which some of the abdominal organs protrude through an opening in the abdominal muscles in the area of the umbilical cord.

Pheochromocytoma

A pheochromocytoma is an adrenal gland tumor that secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine hormones. These hormones are responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure, among other functions.

Phimosis and Paraphimosis

Phimosis is a constriction of the opening of the foreskin so that it cannot be drawn back over the tip of the penis.

Pilomatrixoma

Pilomatrixoma is a slow-growing, hard mass found beneath the skin. It is most common on the face and neck, but is sometimes found elsewhere on the body.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a lung disorder in babies in which air in the lungs leaks out through holes in the lung tissue into the spaces outside the lung airways.

Pyloric Stenosis

Pyloric stenosis is a problem that affects babies between 2 and 8 weeks of age and causes forceful vomiting that can lead to dehydration. It is the second most common problem requiring surgery in newborns.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells and accounts for more than 50 percent of all cancers.

Testicular Torsion

Testicular torsion is a twisting of the testicles and the spermatic cord (the structure extending from the groin to the testes that contains nerves, ducts, and blood vessels).

Thyroglossal Duct Cyst

A thyroglossal duct cyst is a neck mass or lump that develops from cells and tissues remaining after the formation of the thyroid gland during embryonic development. It is most commonly diagnosed in preschool-aged children or during mid-adolescence.

Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Atresia

Tracheoesophageal fistula is an abnormal connection in one or more places between the esophagus and the trachea.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease in which the inner lining of the large intestine (colon or bowel) and rectum become inflamed.

Undescended Testes (Cryptorchidism)

Cryptorchidism (or undescended testes) is a condition seen in newborns when one or both of the male testes have not passed down into the scrotal sac.

Wilms Tumor

Wilms tumor, also called nephroblastoma, is a cancerous tumor originating in the cells of the kidney. It is the most common type of renal (kidney) cancer in children.

The following related clinical trials and research studies are currently seeking participants at Massachusetts General Hospital. Search for clinical trials and studies in another area of interest.

Finding Home in a New World

Claudine Humure arrived at MassGeneral Hospital for Children from Rwanda for bone cancer treatment. More than improved health, she also gained a new family.

Q&A with Pediatric Surgeon and Researcher Cassandra Kelleher, MD

MassGeneral Hospital for Children pediatric surgeon and new mother Cassandra Kelleher, MD, answers our questions.

Research of Cassandra Michelle Kelleher, MD

Dr. Kelleher's laboratory has created a mouse lung culture model to study how alveoli form and is using the model to identify therapies that may help newborns with lung diseases.

MGHfC Surgery

Phone: 617-724-1725
Fax: 617-726-2167

Public Transportation Access: yes
Disabled Access: yes

To schedule an appointment with a MassGeneral for Children pediatric specialist, please call 888-644-3248 or complete our online appointment form to request an appointment.

Physicians may call 888-644-3211 or use the online referral form and the Access & New Appointment Center will call your patient within 1 business day.