World Journal of Oncology Research  (Volume 4)

Samuel Wabada, Jibril Khalil and Amos C. Zirra

Even though hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant hepatic tumour in children, it is still a rarely encountered childhood tumour. Survival outcome is better with the favorable histologic subtype. This report is focused on raising increase awareness of this rare tumour in our environment and also to report the outcome of management of two cases based on already established collaborative multicentre clinical trial studies.

The first case was a 6week old girl with a painless abdominal mass presenting in acute respiratory distress with severe anaemia. The serum level of AFP was ≥ 107,000ng/ml. Right tri segmentectomy was performed for excision of the pedunculated liver mass. Histology of the mass was consistent with hepatoblastoma with predominance of fetal components. Complete course of adjuvant cisplatin 3mg/kg mono therapy was administered.

The second case was a 7 year old, healthy looking girl presenting with a slow growing abdominal mass for 6 years. Her serum AFP level was ≥ 10,000ng/ml. At surgery an encapsulated huge gray looking tumour was found on the right lobe of the liver. An extended right hepatectomy was performed to remove the tumour. Histology revealed hepatoblastoma with teratoid components. Complete course of adjuvant chemotherapy made up of cisplatin 60/mg²in combination with doxorubicin 30/mg² was administered.

Both patients did well and had uneventful follow-ups.