Conditions We Treat

When your child needs surgery, you want a team you can trust. You can find expert, compassionate care at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Our surgeons provide care for conditions ranging from common to rare. They work together as a team and use advanced tools, including the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. It all helps us deliver outstanding, nationally recognized outcomes.

You can feel confident that your child is receiving complete care from a team that puts their safety and healing first.

Pediatric Surgery Conditions We Treat

Our dedicated team of pediatric surgeons strives to deliver expert consultation and surgical services. We help infants, children, and teens with the following conditions:

Achalasia — Achalasia is a disorder where the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus doesn't relax. This causes problems with food passing into the stomach.
Anorectal malformation (ARM) — ARM occurs when a baby's anus and rectum do not develop properly in the womb. They may be missing, closed off, or in the wrong place. ARM is also known as an imperforate anus.
Appendicitis — Inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small, finger‑shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. It’s located in the lower‑right part of the abdomen.
Choledochal cysts (biliary cysts) — A rare congenital condition that involves abnormal ballooning or widening of the bile ducts. These ducts carry bile from the liver to the intestine. The cysts can occur either inside or outside the liver. Biliary cysts are rare and can sometimes lead to cancer if untreated.
Circumcision — The removal of the foreskin of the penis.
Congenital bowel atresia — This is a rare birth defect that causes an obstruction of the intestine. It can involve any part of the intestine.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) — A birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm doesn't form properly in the womb. This creates a hole that allows abdominal organs to herniate (push) into the chest.
Congenital lung lesions — Conditions in which part of a baby’s lung develops an abnormal growth or mass.
Constipation — Constipation can cause stools that are hard, dry, and difficult or painful to pass. Some children also have fewer bowel movements than usual.
Epigastric, umbilical, and ventral hernias — Hernias are abdominal wall defects in which tissue pushes out through a weak spot. Ventral hernias bulge through the front abdominal wall muscles. Umbilical hernias occur at the belly button. Epigastric hernias often contain fat and form midway between the belly button and the breastbone.
Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) — These conditions occur when the esophagus does not form correctly before birth. Esophageal atresia occurs when the upper esophagus doesn't connect to the lower esophagus and stomach. A tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is an abnormal connection between the esophagus and trachea (windpipe).
Esophageal strictures — These happen when the esophagus becomes unusually narrow due to various causes. When a stricture forms, the esophagus becomes less stretchy and may narrow in just one spot or along a longer area.
Fecal incontinence — Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements.
Gallbladder diseases — The gallbladder is a small organ located under the liver, on the right side of the body. It stores and releases bile, a fluid that the liver makes to help digest food. A high-fat diet, blood diseases, and other disorders can cause bile to harden and form stones within the gallbladder.
Gastroschisis — A birth defect in which a hole forms in the baby’s abdominal wall. This opening allows the intestines to develop outside the baby’s body and come into contact with amniotic fluid. They can become irritated, causing them to swell, twist, or become shorter than normal.
Gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy tubes — These tubes support nutrition, hydration, and medication delivery in children with a wide range of medical conditions.
Germ cell tumors — Growths formed from reproductive cells known as germination or germ cells. Germ cell tumors often form in reproductive organs but can also occur elsewhere.
Inguinal hernia — A sac of tissue that protrudes through the abdominal wall. Inguinal hernias usually appear as a bulge in the groin or scrotum.
Head and neck disorders — These include a wide variety of masses in the head and neck. Examples include inflamed lymph nodes and neck lesions or cysts. They require specialized expertise and a high level of care.
Hepatoblastoma — A rare liver cancer that mostly affects young children, especially those under age 5. Its cause is mostly unknown.
Hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (Nissen fundoplication) — A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach pushes up through the chest cavity. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be a complication of hiatal hernias. GERD occurs when the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus doesn't close properly. It can cause stomach contents and acid to flow back into the esophagus.
Hirschsprung disease — Hirschsprung disease (aganglionosis) is a rare birth defect. It occurs when important nerve cells called ganglion cells don't develop when the baby is in the womb. Ganglion cells are typically found in the intestine and help push waste through the bowel.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Inflammatory bowel disease is a lifelong inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Inguinal and scrotal disorders — Disorders involving a child’s inguinal (groin) and scrotal area. While common, each disorder has unique attributes and treatments.
Kidney tumors — Groups of cancerous cells that bind together in the kidney and develop into cancer. They typically occur only in one kidney but can sometimes occur in both kidneys.
Liver tumors — Abnormal masses in the liver. They result from a mutation or mistake in the sequence of development in liver cells. The cells begin to multiply at an abnormal rate, creating a tumor.
Mediastinal and chest wall tumors — These tumors appear in the space between the sternum (breastbone) and the spine. They are usually cancerous.
Newborn congenital anomalies – Often referred to as birth defects, congenital anomalies are conditions that are present at birth.
Neuroblastoma — A type of pediatric cancer that develops in the nerve tissues of the sympathetic nervous system. These solid tumors are mostly found in the adrenal glands, pelvis, spine, chest, or neck.
Melanoma —The most serious type of skin cancer and the most common form in children. Melanoma is a cancer of the melanocytes — the cells that make the pigment melanin in the skin. Most moles (melanocytic tumors) in kids are benign, but they can pose a future risk for skin cancer.
Neck lesions — Neck masses in children can arise from developmental conditions, infections or inflammation, or tumors.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) — A gastrointestinal disease that causes damage and the death of cells in some or all of the intestine. Premature babies are most at risk.
Omphalocele — A congenital anomaly in which a baby’s intestines or other abdominal organs push through a hole at the belly button. The organs are covered by a thin membrane.
Ovarian cysts and masses — Abnormal growths in or on the ovaries. They can occur in girls from infancy through adolescence. Most are harmless cysts or noncancerous tumors, but early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Pectus carinatum — A congenital chest wall abnormality that happens when the sternum (breastbone) and ribs grow outward. This causes the front of the chest to stick out and appear almost bird-like. It's also called pigeon chest or chicken-breast chest.
Pectus excavatum — The most common congenital chest wall anomaly. It occurs when the ribs and sternum grow inward, causing a sunken chest. Pectus excavatum can be mild or severe; in severe cases, it can affect the heart and lungs.
Pediatric cancers — Childhood cancers affect kids from birth to age 14. Teens aged 15 to 19 are diagnosed with adolescent cancers. Most childhood cancers are caused by early DNA mutations rather than preventable risk factors.
Pediatric trauma — Pediatric trauma is any injury to a child's body. Trauma can occur from many different causes.
Perianal and perirectal abscess and fistula-in-ano — These abscesses develop when an infection forms deep in pockets near the anus called the crypts of Morgagni. They occur most often in infants under 1 year of age.
Pilonidal disease — A health issue that happens most often in teenagers. It causes painful cysts in the buttock crease because of trapped hair follicles.
Pulmonary and lung metastases — Cancerous growths that began somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs. Metastasized lung cancer is different from primary lung cancer, which is cancer that originated in the lungs.
Rare tumors — Within all childhood cancers, some are designated as rare tumors or very rare tumors. That's either because of low incidence overall or because they're uncommon in younger ages.
Rhabdomyosarcoma — The most common soft-tissue sarcoma (cancer) in children. It usually begins in muscles that attach to bones and help the body move. However, it can develop in many different areas of the body.
Short-bowel syndrome — A type of intestinal disorder that can occur from many causes. It is also known as short-gut syndrome.
Skin lesions — An umbrella term for abnormal growths or marks on the skin.
Soft-tissue sarcoma — Soft tissues connect, support, and surround body parts. They include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fat, blood vessels, and nerves. Soft-tissue sarcoma is cancer of the soft tissues.
Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) — In infant boys, the testicles usually descend into the scrotum within the first four months after birth. In some boys, however, at least one testicle may not descend. The testicle might end up anywhere from inside the abdomen to just above the scrotum.
Vascular malformations and anomalies – Vascular malformations are abnormalities with blood and lymph vessels. They are usually congenital (present at birth).
Wilms tumor — Wilms tumor is the most common kidney tumor in children. It accounts for about 8% of all childhood cancers.

Referral Requirements

We encourage referrals from primary care physicians or other UPMC Children’s specialty services. However, we accept self-referrals.

If you are enrolled in a managed-care insurance plan, you may need authorization from your insurance provider and a primary care physician. We must receive all necessary referral and authorization forms before the child's visit.*

For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call the office directly at 412-692-7280.

*In some situations, you may be asked to review patient information with a nurse or other medical professional before making any new appointment.