Hepatoblastoma affects babies and young children. It’s a rare form of liver cancer. Experts don’t know the exact cause. Common symptoms include belly pain, a lump in your child’s right belly and unexpected weight loss. Treatment often is chemotherapy followed by surgery.
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Hepatoblastoma (pronounced “heh-puh-tow-blas-tow-mah”) is a very rare liver cancer. Only 1 to 2 children in 1 million children in the U.S. have it. This condition typically affects children ages 1 to 3. Early diagnosis and surgery to remove the cancerous tumor(s) may cure it. A liver transplant is another option.
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Common hepatoblastoma symptoms include:
Hepatoblastomas grow very slowly. Your child may not have symptoms until the tumor is large enough to affect their body. For example, your child may have belly pain that doesn’t go away or appear to be losing weight. Chances are, hepatoblastoma isn’t the reason why your child has a stomachache. Your intuition may be telling you that your child’s touchy tummy is a serious issue. In that case, don’t hesitate to call their pediatrician.
Experts don’t know exactly what causes healthy liver cells to become cancer cells. But there are conditions that increase hepatoblastoma risk:
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Cancer treatments for hepatoblastoma may cause late effects. These are health issues that surface months and years after diagnosis or treatment. Your child may need long-term follow-up and medical care to manage them.
Second cancers are examples of a late effect. This is a new type of cancer. It appears months or years after your child completes hepatoblastoma treatment.
Late effects may make an impact on your child’s:
Your child’s pediatrician will do a physical examination. They’ll ask about your child’s symptoms and when you first noticed symptoms. They may do some of the following tests:
Your child’s pediatrician may refer you to a pediatric oncologist. This is a doctor with experience treating cancer in children.
Cancer staging is how oncologists set treatment plans. Pediatric oncologists use two grouping systems instead of cancer stages. Those groups are:
Your liver has two lobes. Oncologists divide the two lobes into four groups. They classify each group by the number of liver sections with tumors. The more sections with tumors, the higher the group number.
Here’s an example: Tests detect two tumors in different sections of your child’s liver. That puts the cancer in PRETEXT Group II. If pre-surgery chemotherapy removes one tumor, the cancer is POSTEXT Group I. Your child’s oncologist may say your child now has Group I hepatoblastoma. Other hepatoblastoma groups are:
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The most common treatment is surgery to remove the part of your child’s liver that cancer affects. The liver is the only organ that can grow back after surgery. That means your child’s liver will eventually grow back to its original size.
Your child’s pediatric oncologist may do more chemotherapy before and after surgery. They do this treatment to shrink the tumor.
Your child may receive chemotherapy for four to six weeks after surgery. Chemotherapy after surgery reduces the chance that cancer will come back.
Other hepatoblastoma treatments include:
Yes, but it depends on when your child is diagnosed and receives treatment. Your child’s surgeon may be able to cure hepatoblastoma if they can remove the entire tumor or all of the tumors.
Cancer survival rates are estimates based on people’s experiences with different kinds of cancer. Overall, 4 out of 5 children with hepatoblastoma will be alive five years after diagnosis.
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When you think about survival rates, it’s important to keep in mind that your child’s experience with hepatoblastoma may be different from what other children experience.
Many things can make a difference in hepatoblastoma. If you have questions about survival rates, your child’s pediatric oncologist is your best resource for information. They’ll explain what survival rate data means in your child’s case.
Your child should have regular follow-up appointments with their cancer care team. The team will check your child’s health, including any late effect health issues. Team members will look for signs of returning hepatoblastoma or a new cancer.
Hepatoblastoma treatment typically involves surgery. Surgery can have complications, including infection. You should take your child to the emergency room if they:
Tests are essential to find out why your child is sick. But needles for blood tests can sting. MRI machines make loud scary noises. Your child may feel anxious about having chemotherapy or surgery. These are very normal reactions when a child has cancer. Working with a child life specialist may help your child (and you) get through tests and treatment.
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Learning your child has hepatoblastoma may launch a tidal wave of emotions. You may feel overwhelmed trying to stay calm on the outside, while you’re crumbling on the inside. Treatment may cure hepatoblastoma. But managing those treatments can be challenging for little ones and the people who love them.
Your child’s surgeon and other care team understand these challenges. They’ll do everything they can to make treatment as easy as possible. And they’ll always be willing to take the time to explain what you can expect and how you can help your child.
Cleveland Clinic Children’s treats hepatoblastoma and other liver cancers in children. We offer compassionate care and support for you and your child.
Last reviewed on 03/19/2025.
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