Hepatoblastoma Associated with Trisomy 18

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Pediatric Oncology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) is a genetic disorder associated with numerous health issues.
• Hepatoblastoma is the most common pediatric liver cancer.
• Limited literature exists on the co-occurrence of trisomy 18 and hepatoblastoma, particularly multifocal forms.

Observation:

• A review of an institutional database over 10 years identified three cases.
• These cases involved patients diagnosed with trisomy 18 and multifocal hepatoblastoma.
• This suggests a potential, albeit rare, association between the genetic condition and liver cancer.

Findings:

• Three instances of multifocal hepatoblastoma were found in patients with trisomy 18.
• This finding contributes to the scarce existing data on this specific tumor-genetic syndrome association.
• The presence of multifocal disease in these cases is noteworthy.

Implications:

• Further research is warranted to understand the biological mechanisms underlying this association.
• This information may inform surveillance strategies for pediatric patients with trisomy 18.
• Early detection and management of hepatoblastoma in this population could improve outcomes.