Pediatric Liver Tumors

An infant or child who presents with a large intrahepatic mass will most likely have a malignant tumor. In children, benign tumors constitute only 30% of liver tumors and most are vascular in origin. Treatment of benign vascular tumors is conservative and seldom surgical. Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant tumor followed by hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment of malignant tumors is based on a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Children with hepatic malignancies that can be resected have an excellent prognosis. Other rare benign and malignant tumors of the liver do occur and surgery plays a critical role in management.