Seminars in Pediatric Surgery (2012) 21, 1

Preface
Major advances have occurred in the management of
pediatric solid tumors of infants and children in the last
several years. New information is available regarding their
diagnosis, and in some cases new drug therapy is available
that is directed at recently identified genetic alterations.
Recent cooperative group trials have also clarified appropriate treatment in several tumor systems, and risk-based
therapy is used increasingly to minimize the long-term morbidity of treatment.
In this issue of Seminars in Pediatric Surgery, I have
asked authors who are recognized leaders in each of the
tumor systems that they cover to report the major new
clinical and basic science discoveries of the last 5 years. The
articles are designed not to provide a broad-based summary

1055-8586/$ -see front matter 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2011.10.001

of the tumors but to focus on new critical developments. In

this manner, Seminars will help bridge the gap between the
pediatric surgical textbooks and the most current knowledge. Also included in this issue are articles on management
of pulmonary metastases in pediatric solid tumors and a
discussion of the use of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the various tumors. I hope that this issue will be
useful in keeping all pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists,
oncologists, and pediatricians abreast of these recent developments.

Robert C. Shamberger, MD
Guest Editor