Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastomas are the most common primary malignant liver tumor in pediatric patients, occurring mostly within the first 2 years of life. The histologic types are subdivided into 2 broad categories: epithelial type and mixed type. Over the last 3 decades, the treatment has advanced with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy now the standard of care for most cases. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection produce a cure rate of approximately 70%, a vast improvement over the dismal 30% cure rate in the 1970s. Prognosis is based on many factors including alpha-fetoprotein levels, age at the time of diagnosis, completeness of resection, and clinical stage of the disease.