Kazi Abdul Shakoor.
Hepatoblastoma early diagnosis for better prognosis.
Pak Paed J Jan ;20(4):203-7.

Two cases of hepatoblastoma (HBL) are presented. Both were males below three years of age and presented with a mass in the right hypochondrium at the ages of 9 and 8 months respectively. The first case was advised surgical resection after preliminary investigation but refused. Two years later he was brought back with a huge mass in right hypochondrium. Laboratory investigations including fine needle aspiration of mass revealed a multifocal mass in the right lobe of the liver. The tumor was removed after a course of pre-operative chemotherapy. The child died in intensive care unit 6 hours after the operation. Pathological findings supported by immunohistochemistry were consistent with embryonal/fetal subtype of hepatoblastoma. Second case presented with a mass in the right hypochondrium. Laboratory investigations including fine needle aspiration biopsy followed by Trucut biopsy of the mass revealed well-differentiated fetal subtype of hepatoblastoma. Preoperative chemotherapy was followed by operative removal of the tumor. The child is alive 14 months after operation. We believe that early diagnosis, pre-operative chemotherapy and surgical removal arc essential for better survival.

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