Resection of Huge Liver Tumor in Children

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of resection of huge liver tumor in children. Methods From June 2001 to October 2007, 39 children ranged from 28 days to 14 years old with huge liver tumor underwent hepatectomy treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Peking University. The diameter of tumors varied from 9 cm to 25 cm. In these patients, 30 cases were hepatoblastoma, and 9 cases were benign huge liver tumor. Results Resection of the huge liver tumor was successfully accomplished in 39 patients. Right hemihepatectomy (segment Ⅴ to Ⅷ) was undertaken in 18 cases, right trihepatectomy (segment Ⅰ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ to Ⅷ) in 7 cases, and left trihepatectomy (segments Ⅰ to Ⅴ and Ⅷ) in 2 cases, left hemihepatectomy in 7 cases, segment Ⅳ, Ⅶ and Ⅷ and segment Ⅴ and Ⅵ resections in each one respectively; 2 cases died. During the follow-up period, 27 patients survived without any tumor recurrence. One patient with 2 tumors in right and left lobes died of brain and lung metastasis at the seventh month after operation, and 1 case died of tumor metastasis after two and a half years. Conclusion Resection of huge liver tumor is an effective, safe and feasible operation for children with huge liver tumor. Key words: liver neoplasm; hepatectomy; children