Clinical and Basic Research on Congenital Digestive Tract Malformations

Congenital digestive tract malformations (CDTMs) represent a major group of pediatric congenital conditions, characterized by marked heterogeneity in anatomical presentation, clinical severity, and often, suboptimal long-term outcomes. These disorders frequently lead to significant challenges such as feeding difficulties, growth retardation, repeated hospitalizations, and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications during early life. While significant advances in pediatric surgery have substantially improved survival rates, conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remain constrained. Key limitations include insufficient preoperative precision, an incomplete understanding of underlying developmental and molecular mechanisms, and variable postoperative outcomes.

Fortunately, recent progress in developmental biology, molecular genetics, and precision medicine has yielded new insights into the embryological origins and pathogenic pathways of congenital gastrointestinal anomalies. Concurrently, innovations in imaging technologies, three-dimensional reconstruction, and minimally invasive surgical techniques have greatly enhanced the feasibility of individualized treatment planning.

Despite these advancements, their application often occurs in isolation, hindering seamless integration into standardized clinical workflows. There is a clear and pressing need for comprehensive, integrated research that bridges basic developmental and molecular investigations with clinical practice. Such translational efforts are crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy, guiding precise surgical decision-making, and ultimately optimizing long-term outcomes for affected children.

Goal

This Research Topic aims to address these critical gaps by fostering the integration of clinical studies with foundational research in developmental biology and molecular genetics. Our overarching goal is to advance precision-oriented diagnosis and management strategies for congenital digestive tract malformations.

This collection will promote cutting-edge translational research that directly links developmental and molecular mechanisms with clinical phenotypes and innovative therapeutic strategies. By bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives, we intend to drive evidence-based refinements in diagnostic pathways, optimize minimally invasive surgical techniques, reduce postoperative complications, and significantly improve both functional and long-term outcomes for children grappling with these complex conditions.

Scope and Information for Authors

This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies addressing, but not limited to, the following areas:

● Precision Diagnostics: Clinical evaluation and application of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies, including advanced imaging (e.g., 3D reconstruction), multi-omics, and genetic or molecular testing, in CDTMs.
● Mechanistic Insights: Elucidation of developmental biology and molecular genetic mechanisms underlying the initiation, progression, and phenotypic heterogeneity of congenital gastrointestinal anomalies.
● Translational Bridging: Studies that effectively connect molecular or developmental findings with clinical presentation, innovative surgical planning, and patient outcomes.
● Surgical Innovation: Optimization and evaluation of individualized and minimally invasive surgical strategies tailored for various categories of CDTMs.
● Integrated Clinical Workflows: Development, validation, and implementation of standardized, precision-guided diagnostic and therapeutic workflows for congenital digestive tract malformations, aimed at enhancing patient safety and reducing postoperative complications.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Congenital digestive tract malformations; Minimally invasive podiatric surgery; Precision medicine; Developmental biology; Molecular genetics; Children

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.