Oncologic Surgery

Oncologic surgery is commonly used to treat cancers such as:

• Neuroblastomas. These tumors are the most common type of solid tumor in children. These neuroendocrine tumors develop from the sympathetic nervous system.
• Wilms tumors. Wilms tumor is a cancer of the kidneys in children. 
• Germ cell tumors. These cancers originate in the cells that form the ovaries and testicles but can appear anywhere in the body.

Pediatric surgeons at Riley at IU Health consult with a multidisciplinary team of specialists including oncologists, gastroenterologists, nephrologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, neonatologists and others to determine the right time for surgery. Depending on the specific type of cancer, surgery may be the first step in a treatment plan, or it may come after other treatments, such as chemotherapy, which is used to shrink the tumor.

Doctors use different tests to obtain as much information as they can about the tumor and to determine how surgery will impact other organs near the tumor. These tests include:

• Blood tests. A sample of blood is studied to figure out what kinds of cells and antibodies are growing in a tumor.
• Biopsy. A biopsy lets doctors study tumor cells under a microscope.
• Computed tomography (CT). CT scans use X-rays to make a cross sectional image of tumors.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI makes a picture of the tumor and nearby organs and tissues using a magnetic field and radio waves.
• Ultrasound. This imaging test creates images of the tumor and surrounding blood vessels and tissues using sound waves.

Pediatric surgeons at Riley at IU Health are active in the Children’s Oncology Group. This means children receive access to the most advanced cancer treatment protocols. 

When children have cancerous tumors, each case is presented before a tumor board of pediatric specialists, including surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists. This group discusses each case and determines the best course of action for each child. Doctors talk with family members about the procedure and show them pictures of the tumor so they understand what is involved in the surgery.