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The Influence of Liver Resection on Intrahepatic Tumor Growth
Published on: April 9, 2016
Hepatic tumors in Iranian children: Characteristics and survival predictors
Fateme Ziyaee1, Seyed Mohsen Dehghani2, Mehdi Forooghi3
1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Insights
Pediatric hepatic tumors, primarily hepatoblastoma, present with abdominal symptoms. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and jaundice indicate a poor prognosis in children with liver masses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatic tumors are uncommon in pediatric populations.
- Understanding their characteristics is crucial for effective management.
- This study investigates liver masses in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the characteristics of pediatric liver masses.
- To identify independent predictors of survival in children with hepatic tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for children under 18.
- Data collected from January 2008 to December 2023 at two referral centers in Iran.
- Inclusion criteria: confirmed diagnosis of hepatic tumor.
Main Results:
- 153 children diagnosed with hepatic tumors; median age 2 years.
- Hepatoblastoma (64.5%) was most common, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 9.9%).
- Abdominal pain, distension, palpable mass, and fever were common symptoms. HCC and jaundice predicted poor prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric hepatic tumor characteristics align with existing literature.
- Abdominal pain, distension, HCC diagnosis, and jaundice are independent predictors of poor prognosis.
- Early identification of these factors can guide treatment strategies.
Background:
Hepatic tumors are rare in children. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of liver masses in children and identify the independent predictors of their survival.
Methods:
Medical records of children aged <18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of hepatic tumor diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2023 at two referral centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, southern Iran, were reviewed.
Results:
There were 153 children with hepatic tumors. The median age of the patients was 2 (IQR, 1-5) years. Abdominal pain and distension, and presence of a palpable mass and fever were the most common signs and symptoms at presentation. The most common tumor was hepatoblastoma (64.5 %) followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 9.9 %). Right hepatectomy and hepatic segmentectomy were the most common surgical approach used. Children with hepatoblastoma were significantly (p < 0.001) younger than those with HCC. The risk of hepatoblastoma in males was twice that in females. Jaundice was not common in those with hepatoblastoma but it was in HCC. About a quarter of patients died. After adjusting for covariates, abdominal pain (adj OR = 4.90) and distension (adj OR = 3.17), and a diagnosis of HCC (adj OR = 13.63) were independent predictors of a poor prognosis.
Conclusions:
The characteristics of pediatric hepatic tumors in our study were similar to those reported in most studies. Abdominal pain and distension and presence of HCC or jaundice were independent predictors of a poor prognosis.
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