Hepatoblastoma and Hepatocarcinoma in Childhood

Primary malignant epithelial tumors of the liver in childhood are classified by histological pattern into two main groups: hepatoblastoma and hepatocarcinoma. Hepatoblastomas, often associated with congenital anomalies, occur more frequently in children under 2 years of age, their biological behaviour often being characterized by a slow rate of growth. Hepatocarcinomas, usually occurring in children over 5 years of age, are considered to be clinically and pathologically indistinguishable from liver carcinomas observed in adults. Two cases of hepatoblastoma, namely of « embryonal » and « fetal » type, and a case of trabecular hepatocarcinoma, all in children under 6 years of age, are reported. The typical histological pattern of hepatoblastoma is emphasized and, on the basis of biological and clinical data, it is suggested that genetic factors may be involved and hence that these tumors should be classed among dysembryogenetic tumors.