Liver Cancer - Hepatoblastomul

Liver Cancer - Hepatoblastomul

    * Introduction
    * Pathogenesis and causes
    * Diagnosis
    * Signs and symptoms
    * Treatment
Hepatoblastomul is the most common liver cancer in children. Usually affects children under 3 years with average age of diagnosis of one year.
It is rarely diagnosed in adolescence and rarely in adults. Older children and adults tend to have a negative prognosis.
Hepatoblastom patients are asymptomatic at diagnosis. Advanced disease at diagnosis is 40% of patients, while 20% already have lung metastases. Children's shows the late stage of anorexia and severe osteopenia. Other signs and symptoms include: jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia and fever. Family history of bowel polyps increases the risk of developing adenocarcinoma hepatoblastom and family fit in familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome.
Cancer diagnosis before the onset of clinical symptoms is important. Children with a history of chronic hepatitis B and severe hepatic impairment require monitoring every 6-12 months with measurement of serum levels of alpha-fetaoproteina-tumor marker. In these patients alpha-fetaoproteina be measured every three months until the child reaches at least 4 years old. Any child with cirrhosis of diverse etiology requires periodic monitoring of alpha-protein levels and ultrasonography because of the risk of developing malignant liver condition.
Hepatoblastomului Treatment depends on several factors: child's age, overall health, tolerance to certain mediacamente. Therapy consists of resection of a larger part as the tumor, liver function maintaining the appropriate level. After resection of the liver will regenerate and will replace the removed portion. Other forms of treatment include: chemotherapy, liver transplantation, antibiotics.
Long-term prognosis depends on: local extension of tumor, metastasis, and tumor size, response to therapy, the patient's age.