[Medical Q&A] Is hepatoblastoma liver cancer?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Ye Qing, Chief Physician, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

Hepatoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the liver in children, which mainly occurs in infants and young children (mostly under 3 years old). The liver cancer we often mention mainly occurs in adults. The two are different.

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor originating from liver cells. There are many types, the most common of which are hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Liver cancer is generally accompanied by chronic liver disease (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver fibrosis, etc.), and the disease progresses relatively slowly. Hepatoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor originating from immature liver cells in the liver. It is generally not accompanied by chronic liver disease, and the disease progresses rapidly, and it is easy to metastasize outside the liver and lymph nodes. The exact cause of hepatoblastoma is still unclear. There are generally no obvious symptoms in the early stage. As the tumor gradually grows, it may manifest as abdominal mass (mostly on the right abdomen), abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss, etc. Commonly used examination methods are tumor marker detection (such as elevated alpha-fetoprotein), imaging examination, pathological examination, etc. Because infants and young children have a strong ability to regenerate their livers, and hepatoblastoma is mostly a single huge tumor with clear boundaries and no other chronic liver diseases, surgical resection is the preferred treatment method. Of course, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and other auxiliary treatment methods can also be selected according to the specific situation of the patient. Because hepatoblastoma is highly malignant and is prone to recurrence after surgery, parents of sick children should strictly follow the doctor's instructions for follow-up examinations.