Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma in an infant and literature review

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2008 Dec;30(12):968-71. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e31818b0f82.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare pediatric neoplasm exceptionally reported in infants and fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma (FLC) a HCC variant. Controversy exists whether FLC has a better prognosis than classic HCC, although recent studies of children and young adults with FLC did not report a better outcome. We present a 4-month-old male infant without any related metabolic or infectious disease who developed a metastatic and multifocal FLC. Serum alpha-fetoprotein determinations were always normal. Induction chemotherapy using cisplatin and Adriamycin resulted in a partial response, however, refractory disease developed and regional metastasis precluded surgical resection. The child died from tumoral progression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / metabolism

Substances

  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cisplatin