What we have to know about paediatrics hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma is the most common hepatic tumor in paediatric population with an increasing incidence. It occurs almost in patients younger than 3 years without history of liver disease. Even if the aetiology is unknown, it can be associated with a congenital abnormality or an APC mutation. Hepatoblastoma appears as a well-circumscribed liver mass with, in most cases, an abnormal elevation of alfa-foetoprotein level (AFP). The imaging characteristics of the tumor reflect its gross pathologic appearance and histological composition. A biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis and study biological markers of the tissue. The radiological characteristics and the histology have permitted to build a new classification and a stratification of the treatment. Cisplatinum associated with surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment. Tumors considered unresectable may be treated with liver donor transplantation. The intensification of the chemotherapy and the radical surgery have increased the complete resection rate and the overall survival (80%) even in the high risk stage. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.