Liver cancer in children is rare. According to authoritative health organisations, approximately 2% of cancers diagnosed in children are liver cancers. About 100 children each year are diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, which is the most common type of liver cancer found in the paediatric population.
The liver is the largest organ in the body, shaped like a pyramid and located under the right ribs. It consists of two sections, or lobes. The liver is unique among organs as it receives blood from two sources: the hepatic artery, which provides oxygen-rich blood, and the portal vein, which supplies nutrient-rich blood from the intestines.
Some of the vital functions performed by the liver include:
If liver cancer spreads, the areas most likely to be affected are surrounding tissues, the lungs, or the brain.
This is the most common form of liver cancer in children and occurs most often in infants or very young children, typically between 2 months and 3 years of age.
This type is more frequently seen in older children, generally between 10 and 16 years of age.
If your child has been diagnosed with liver cancer, SSCHRC is here to help.
A risk factor is anything that increases a child's chance of developing liver cancer. These factors include:
It is important to understand that having risk factors does not guarantee that a child will develop liver cancer. If your child has any of these factors, it is essential to discuss them with their doctor.
Detecting liver cancer early significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Symptoms can vary among children, and often, liver cancer may only present as a painless mass or bump in the abdomen with no other initial symptoms. In many cases, the cancer is discovered during a routine medical examination or by a parent.
As liver cancer is rare, these symptoms usually point to other, less serious health problems. However, it is vital to discuss any symptoms with your doctor, as they may signal an underlying health issue.
SSCHRC has the most up-to-date technology and advanced expertise to accurately diagnose paediatric liver cancer.
Our specialised pathologists are highly experienced in accurately pinpointing the disease, which is crucial as it increases the likelihood of successful treatment. They have access to the most detailed imaging tools, including precise triple-phase CT scans.
If your doctor is concerned that your child may have liver cancer, the initial step is a thorough physical examination. The doctor will also inquire about your child's health history and your family medical history.
One or more of the following tests may be used to confirm if your child has liver cancer, determine if it has spread, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment:
Including checking for elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which can be a marker for liver cancer.
These may include:
A small sample of tissue from the tumour or the healthy part of the liver is removed and examined under a microscope. Healthy tissue may also be tested to check how well the liver is functioning. A biopsy may be performed using:
Your child's treatment will be meticulously planned by a team of doctors. They will discuss the optimal treatment approach, which may depend on:
Hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are treated differently. For treatment to be successful, both require complete surgical removal of the tumour. Hepatoblastoma typically responds well to chemotherapy, but HCC tumours are usually treated with surgery alone.
Surgery is almost always an essential part of the treatment for paediatric liver cancer. If all or most of the cancer can be removed surgically, the possibility of a successful outcome is better.
If the tumour is too large or has spread to other parts of the liver or body, the surgeon may not be able to remove all of it. In this case, the surgeon will remove as much of the tumour as possible while preserving enough healthy liver tissue for the organ to function. Bleeding after surgery can be a concern since the liver aids in blood clotting. Furthermore, the cancer may recur if the remaining liver tissue is damaged.
The main types of surgery for liver cancer include:
Tiny pellets made of plastic or another material are injected into the arteries that carry blood to the tumour. The pellets block the blood flow, making it difficult for the liver cancer to grow.
Because radiation therapy can destroy normal liver tissue in addition to cancer cells, it can only be used in low doses for liver cancer. Radiation therapy cannot cure liver cancer, but it may be used to shrink the tumour or provide pain relief.
New radiation therapy techniques and the exceptional skill of SSCHRC doctors allow for more precise targeting of tumours, delivering the maximum amount of radiation with the least damage to healthy cells.
Chemotherapy is frequently used to treat hepatoblastoma, but hepatocellular carcinoma does not respond to it. Our experts are also developing new methods to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into the liver, which allows for higher doses of drugs than is usually possible, with fewer side effects. These include:
SSCHRC is one of only a few cancer centres in the nation that can offer targeted therapies for some types of paediatric liver cancer. These innovative new drugs halt the growth of cancer cells by interfering with the proteins, receptors, or blood vessels that supply the tumour with the resources it requires to grow.