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Hepatic neoplasms in childhood - a clinicopathologic study
S Bhattacharya1, F D Lobo, P K Pai
1Department of a Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore 575 001, India.
Pediatric Surgery International
|January 9, 1999
Summary
Childhood primary hepatic tumors are rare, with hepatoblastoma being the most common. Most cases occurred in children under two years old, with a 2:1 male-to-female ratio.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hepatobiliary Medicine
- Tumor Pathology
Background:
- Primary hepatic tumors in children are infrequent occurrences.
- Hepatoblastoma and mesenchymal hamartoma are the predominant types observed in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the demographics and histopathological features of these rare tumors is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence and characteristics of primary liver tumors in children.
- To describe the histopathological subtypes of hepatoblastomas observed.
- To identify demographic patterns, including age and sex distribution, in pediatric hepatic tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series analysis.
- Review of nine pediatric patients diagnosed with primary hepatic tumors between 1976 and 1995.
- Histopathological examination of tumor samples to classify subtypes.
Main Results:
- Eight out of nine cases were identified as hepatoblastomas, with one case of mesenchymal hamartoma.
- Hepatoblastomas presented as either pure epithelial type (five cases) or mixed type.
- The male-to-female ratio was 2:1, and 78% of cases involved children under two years of age.
- Mesenchymal components in mixed hepatoblastomas included cartilage, bone, and spindle sarcomatous cells.
Conclusions:
- Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary liver tumor in childhood.
- Early age of onset and a male predominance are characteristic features.
- Histopathological diversity, including epithelial and mesenchymal components, is noted in hepatoblastomas.