Liver Cancer

A possible sign of childhood liver cancer is a lump or pain in the abdomen, which is one common symptom when a tumor has become large. Consult a doctor if your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• A painless lump in the abdomen
• Swelling or pain in the abdomen
• Weight loss for an unknown reason
• Loss of appetite

A series of tests and procedures are used to diagnose childhood liver cancer. Initially your child's doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual.

Other tests may include:

• Serum tumor marker test — The blood of children who have liver cancer may have increased amounts of a protein called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or a hormone called beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG). This blood test can indicate these protein and hormone levels.



• Complete blood count (CBC) — This blood test measures the number of red blood cells (RBCs); the number of white blood cells (WBCs); the total amount of hemoglobin in the blood; the fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells (hematocrit); and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the size of the red blood cells.




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How liver cancer is treated is dependent on several factors:

• The stage of the cancer (which is determined by the size of the tumor, whether the tumor affects all or part of the liver, and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body)



• The type of liver cancer, either hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular



• Whether surgery will be able to completely remove the cancer



• Whether the cancer is recurring or newly diagnosed

Childhood liver cancer may be cured if the tumor is small and completely removed by surgery. Successful removal of a tumor is possible more often for hepatoblastoma than for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Taking those factors into consideration, treatment options can include partial hepatectomy, which is removing the part of the liver where the cancer is found; total hepatectomy and liver transplant; radiation; and chemotherapy.