Liver tumors in childhood: epidemiology and clinics

Childhood liver tumors have received great attention for many reasons: their vast histologic variety, uncertainty about pathogenesis and classification, recent gains in genetic understanding, relationship to antecedent diseases, and difficulties in treatment. In this paper we review the main epidemiological aspects of malignant epithelial and nonepithelial liver tumors of children, clinical aspects at presentation of disease, and diagnostic evaluation with biological and imaging studies.