Hepatoblastoma

Introduction:
The liver is a large, very important organ situated in the right upper quadrant of abdomen. The normal functions of the liver in the body are: 

To help store nutrients from food
To break down and remove harmful chemicals from the body
To build chemicals that the body needs to stay healthy.

Hepatoblastoma: The most common type of liver cancer in children is Hepatoblastoma. it occurs most frequently in infants or very young children between 2 months and 2 year.

Symptoms:

• Lump in the abdomen (most common)
• Reduced appetite
• lethargy
• nausea / vomiting
• Pain in abdomen
• Jaundice

Investigations:The following minimal investigations are proposed to diagnose hepatoblastoma

• Tumor markers- serum AFP
• CT scan of abdomen with Ct guided FNAC or Biopsy
• X-ray ches/CT Chest
• Complete blood count
• Biochem profile

Treatment: 

Surgery & chemotherapy are two treatment options

Surgery: Liver resection according to the location & extent of the tumor. It will be either

• Rt hepatectomy
• Lt hepatectomy
• Extended Rt or Lt hepatectomy
• Bi or trisegmentectomy

If liver resection is not possible because of multicentric disease then liver transplant is the only treatment of option.

Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is given before or after surgery. Surgery is done either as a sandwich surgery (in between cycles of chemotherapy) or it is done at the start & then chemotherapy is given.

The drugs used in chemotherapy are

• Cisplatin
• Doxorubicin
• Vincristine
• 5-Fluorouracil