CONTROVERSY

6. Should patients with hepatoblastoma receive preoperative chemotherapy to shrink the tumors?

Show answer
Preoperative chemotherapy does shrink tumors, resulting in easier hepatic resection and lower surgical morbidity. This benefit must be weighed against the considerable toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents.
KEY POINTS: ABDOMINAL TUMORS

1. The most common malignant solid abdominal tumors in children are neuroblastomas, Wilms’ tumor, and hepatoblastomas.
2. In neuroblastomas, age at presentation is the major prognostic factor.
3. Hepatoblastomas usually occur in infants and young children, whereas hepatocellular carcinomas usually occur in children older than 10 years.

References
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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3. Reynolds M: Pediatric liver tumors. Semin Surg Oncol 16:159-172, 1999. Medline Similar articles Full article
4. Shamberger RC, Guthrie KA, Ritchey ML, et al: Surgery related factors and local recurrence of Wilms’ tumor in National Wilms’ Tumor Study 4. Ann Surg 229:292-297, 1999. Full article
5. Shimada M: Tumors of the neuroblastoma group. Pathology 2:43-59, 1993.
6. Stocker JT: Hepatic tumors in children. Clin Liver Dis 5:259-281, 2001. Medline Similar articles