A rare liver cancer seen mostly in very young children. Learn how it appears on scans and why early detection matters.

HEPATOBLASTOMA IN CHILDREN

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

AGE OF DIAGNOSIS

Hepatoblastoma is usually diagnosed before age three and is the most common liver cancer in young children.

WHAT THE TUMOR LOOKS LIKE

The tumor often appears as a large well defined liver mass. It may show areas of necrosis or calcification.

HISTOLOGICAL FEATURES

Under the microscope it may show fetal, embryonal, or mixed cell types. These patterns help guide treatment.

CLINICAL SIGNS IN CHILDREN

Common signs include abdominal swelling, a firm mass, poor appetite, and weight loss.

ULTRASOUND APPEARANCE

Ultrasound may show a mixed mass with variable brightness. Doppler shows increased blood flow.

CT AND MRI FEATURES

CT shows heterogeneous enhancement. MRI reveals low T1 and high T2 signals with uneven contrast uptake.

HOW IT SPREADS

The lungs are the most common metastatic site. CT chest often shows multiple small nodules.

IMAGING AFTER TREATMENT

After chemotherapy the tumor may shrink and show more necrotic areas. Post surgical scans show altered liver shape.

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