Pediatric Cancer Surgery

Pediatric cancer surgery aims to remove some or all of a cancerous tumor. When appropriate, surgery occurs before or after chemotherapy, radiation or other therapies. Weill Cornell Medicine surgeons treat infants, children and adolescents experiencing cancer.

Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine

Every childhood cancer journey is unique. The cancer treatment plan should be as well. That’s why the pediatric cancer surgery team at Weill Cornell Medicine tailors your child’s treatment plan to meet your child’s specific needs.

Our surgeons partner with experts from NewYork-Presbyterian to provide advanced care. They also cooperate with a comprehensive multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists, including:

• Chaplains
• Child life specialists
• Medical oncologists
• Nurses
• Nutritionists
• Physical therapists
• Radiation oncologists
• Social workers

Turning to Weill Cornell Medicine gives you access to new treatment options not available at all children’s hospitals. As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), we participate in clinical trials. These trials bring new cancer care options inside the operating room and beyond.

Conditions We Treat

Surgery can be used to treat a variety of cancers. Some of the more common pediatric tumors treated with surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine include:

• Hepatoblastoma. This is the most common pediatric liver tumor. Children born prematurely or with certain genetic conditions are at increased risk of hepatoblastoma. Symptoms include a swollen abdomen, weight loss, tiredness or jaundice. Surgical treatment usually involves removal of the affected lobe. Chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery. Occasionally, liver transplantation is necessary.
• Neuroblastoma. This rare cancer develops in the peripheral nervous system. Tumors can occur in the belly, neck, chest, pelvis or adrenal glands. Treatment involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Antibody therapies, which target and kill cancer cells, may be used in selected cases.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma. This tumor typically begins in the muscle cells in the head, neck, bladder, vagina, arms, legs or abdomen. Because rhabdomyosarcoma can occur anywhere in the body, symptoms vary. Treatment normally involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
• Soft tissue sarcoma. These tumors form anywhere in the body and begin in soft tissue, such as muscle, fibrous tissue, tendons, fat, nerve tissue, joint tissue or blood vessels. Treatment involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
• Teratoma and germ cell tumors. Teratomas are types of germ cell tumors. Mostly found in the ovaries, testicles and tailbone, they can grow in the nervous system, abdomen or chest. Treatment for benign teratomas involves surgical removal. Malignant teratomas and germ cell tumors require surgery and chemotherapy.
• Wilms tumor. The most common kidney tumor in children, a Wilms tumor may cause a hard lump in the child's belly. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, blood in the urine or high blood pressure. Treatment involves removing the affected kidney. Your child may also benefit from chemotherapy and radiation.

Treatment Options

Weill Cornell Medicine surgeons perform pediatric cancer surgery for various reasons.

• Diagnosis. When imaging tests or symptoms indicate cancer, a biopsy confirms the diagnosis. During this procedure, the surgeon removes a sample of tissue for examination. The surgeon may remove tissue from nearby organs or lymph nodes as well. This helps determine if the cancer has spread.
• Primary treatment. If your child’s cancer is confined to one area of the body, the surgeon removes all cancer. In these cases, surgery may be the only treatment necessary. Otherwise, your child’s care may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy to help destroy any remaining cancer.
• Symptomatic relief. Some advanced cancers that cannot be cured cause pain or other symptoms. Removing tumors can bring symptomatic relief and improve quality of life.
• Tumor reduction. With cancers that are large or advanced, the surgeon removes a section of the tumor. Follow-up treatment then gets rid of more cancerous cells.

Thanks to medical advances, today’s pediatric surgeons can take different approaches and achieve excellent results. Based on your child’s specific case, the surgeon may use one of the following techniques:

• Open surgery. The surgeon operates through a single, large incision.
• Minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon operates through a series of small incisions, guided by a tiny video camera.
• Robotic-assisted surgery. The surgeon sits at a console and controls a series of robotic arms to perform surgery, while guided by real-time video.

What to Expect

Before your child’s surgery, the surgical team will discuss the purpose and expected outcome of the procedure. It’s important to ask any questions you have. This helps you understand what will take place and how to prepare your child for surgery.

In general, your child’s experience will include the following:

• Preparation. Your child will likely need to stop eating and drinking a few hours before the procedure. Discuss this with your surgeon and follow orders exactly.
• Operation. Immediately before the procedure, your child will receive care from a pediatric anesthesiologist. General anesthesia causes your child to remain unconscious throughout surgery. This prevents your child from experiencing pain during the procedure.
• Recovery. Following surgery, the care team takes your child to a recovery room. As soon as possible, your child resumes eating, drinking and walking.
• Discharge. Once your child is well enough to go home, your team discharges your child. At home, you should continue following the surgeon’s directions, which may include wound care, physical therapy and follow-up appointments.

Make an Appointment

To request an appointment with a pediatric cancer surgeon, please fill out this form. A member of our team will then connect you with a surgeon.

At Weill Cornell Medicine, an excellent team of pediatric cancer surgery experts provides advanced, compassionate care each day.

Pediatric cancer surgeons ready to serve you include: