. Pancreatic exocrine enzyme deficiency associated with asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy. Asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy, a constrictive thoracic chondrodystrophy present at birth, is associated with tachypnoea, recurrent pulmonary infections, and failure to thrive. In our patient, a successful surgical procedure for the alleviation of the thoracic constriction resulted in improvement of ventilatory function and reduction in the frequency of respiratory infections, but did not improve the growth rate. Further investigation disclosed chronic diarrhoea, steatorrhoea, and neutropenia with impaired pancreatic zymogen secretion, suggesting the presence of a second congenital abnormality. The association of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency with asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy has not been previously described.
Choledochal cyst, or congenital cystic dilatation of the common bile duct, is a rare anomaly usually presenting in the first decade with pain, jaundice, and an abdominal mass. The following is a report of a child with recurrent abdominal pain who showed clinical and biochemical evidence of recurrent pancreatitis. Investigation revealed a congenital choledochal cyst. The abdominal pain and biochemical abnormalities abated after choledochocystojejunostomy.
Case Report
J.J., a 4-year-old white girl, was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia because of recurrent abdominal pain. This pain, located in the epigastrium, first started at the age of 1.5 years and was associated with fever, nausea, and vomiting.
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