Updates on Pediatric Hepatoblastoma

Abstract

The developing human liver is embryologically central in embryogenesis. It plays a significant role as a hematopoietic and endocrine organ. During the development, hepatocytes change their phenotype. They vary from blueish cells to cells with an eosinophilic nuance and decreased nucleus to cytoplasm ratio. Apart from congenital abnormalities of this organ and inflammatory conditions that can populate medical charts in childhood and youth, the liver's neoplastic transformation in childhood and adolescence is a rare event. In children younger than three years, the liver's most dramatic neoplasm is represented by the occurrence of hepatoblastoma. It is an embryologic tumor. It retains the suffix “blastoma,” similar to neuroblastoma as any other embryologic tumor. Hepatoblastoma originates presumably from the primitive embryo-fetal progenitors. In this chapter, we update our knowledge of this pediatric tumor, specifically the pathology and the treatment

Keywords: Advocacy, Anatomy, Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome, Beta-Catenin, Child, Embryology, Familial adenomatous polyposis coli, Genetics, Hepatoblastoma, Liver, Microscopy, Neoplasm, Pathology, Quality Assurance, Radiology, Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome, Sotos syndrome, Trisomy 18 syndrome, Tumor, World Health Organization.