Current trends and prospects of surgical techniques for hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma, a common extracranial malignant solid tumor in childhood, is often detected at an advanced stage and is difficult to treat surgically. Despite the availability of multiple comprehensive treatments that can be combined with surgery, hepatoblastoma treatment outcomes remain poor. Surgery is the main treatment strategy for hepatoblastoma, but it faces many challenges, including tumor attachment to surrounding tissues, tumor wrapping or invading of vital organs and tissues, the presence of giant or multiple tumors, distant metastasis, the formation of a tumor thrombus, and significant surgical trauma. In this review, we discuss recent research advances and propose potential strategies for overcoming these challenges. Such strategies may improve the rate of hepatoblastoma resection and local control in children, as well as reduce complications and trauma.