A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that grows at an increased rate. Tumors that develop in the liver can be either noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Benign liver tumors are common and usually do not produce symptoms. Malignant tumors are less frequent and require more aggressive treatment. The most common cancerous liver tumors in children are:
- Hepatoblastoma. This cancer is seen most often in babies and children younger than 3. It usually does not spread beyond the liver.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma. This cancer can occur at any age but usually affects teenagers more than younger children. It appears in several different areas of the liver and often spreads to other places in the body.
Hepatoblastoma usually responds well to treatment when detected early. Hepatocellular carcinoma is much more difficult to treat and the long-term outlook (prognosis) is often poor.
Liver cancer is more common in boys than girls. Certain diseases and disorders can increase the risk of developing childhood liver cancer. Having one of these diseases or disorders does not mean that a child will develop cancer. These disorders include:
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). FAP is an inherited condition that causes polyps to form.
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. This is a genetic condition that causes excessive growth.
- Hemihyperplasia. This is a condition in which one side of the body grows faster than the other.
- Very low birth weight. A newborn weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces is considered to have very low birth weight.
- Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is passed from mother to child at birth.
- Familial cirrhosis. This is scarring of the liver due to genetics.
- Fanconi anemia. This is a condition of the bone marrow.
Often, no symptoms of liver tumors are seen until the tumor has become large.
Symptoms of a liver tumor can include:
- Precocious puberty
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Painless lump in the abdomen
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen, especially on the right side where the liver is located
- Weight loss for no known reason
Many other conditions can cause the same symptoms, so it is important to check with your child’s doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnosis of Liver Tumors
Diagnosis of a liver tumor starts with a physical exam and medical history. Other procedures and tests performed by doctors at Riley at IU Health may include:
- Blood tests. These tests can be used to detect the presence of specific proteins (alpha-fetoprotein and beta-HCG) released by liver tumor cells in the blood, which may indicate the presence of a liver tumor. Other blood tests may be used to determine how well the liver is working or to monitor side effects from chemotherapy.
- Ultrasound. This exam uses sound waves to view tissues and organs inside the body.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan is a special X-ray that shows the inside of the body from several angles.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test uses magnetism to take detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
- Abdominal X-ray. This imaging test takes pictures of the structure of and organs in the abdomen.
- Liver biopsy. A biopsy is a small piece of tissue that is removed and viewed under a microscope for cancerous cells.
Treatments
Treatments
Treatment of a cancerous liver tumor depends on staging (a classification system that helps determine how far the cancer has progressed) and your child's age and overall health. Treatment may include:
- Surgery. In patients with healthy liver function, surgery may be used to remove the part of the liver that contains the tumor.
- Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles and waves to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy. This treatment uses anti-cancer medicines to kill cancer cells.
- Liver transplant. In cases where tumors are extremely large or the tumors have caused the liver to lose function, a liver transplant may be needed. This is surgery in which a diseased liver is replaced with the healthy liver of a donor.
- Percutaneous ethanol injection. Alcohol is directly injected into the liver tumor to kill cancer cells.
- Clinical trials. Participation in clinical trials may be a treatment option for some patients.
Your child’s long-term outlook (prognosis) depends on factors such as the type and extent of the condition, response to treatment, genetics, age and overall health. Prompt medical attention and aggressive therapy are important for the best results. Follow-up care is also essential.
Key Points to Remember
Key Points to Remember
- Liver tumors may be cancerous or noncancerous.
- The most common cancerous liver tumors in children are hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Often, no symptoms of liver tumors are seen until the tumor becomes large.
- Diagnosis includes a physical exam and medical history and may include blood tests, various imaging tests and biopsy.
- For cancerous liver tumors, treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, liver transplant and percutaneous ethanol injection.
Support Services & Resources
Support Services & Resources
Visit the trusted websites below to learn more about liver tumors, including information about support groups and research.
Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.
This organization is a clinical trials group that is supported by the National Cancer Institute. They provide more information about childhood liver cancer on their website.
Learn about the treatment of childhood liver cancer on the National Cancer Institute website.
The American Cancer Society provides general information about liver cancer for patients of all ages. Topics include types of liver cancer, statistics about liver cancer and new information in liver cancer research.
Liver Tumors Research
Liver Tumors Research
Molecular Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics at the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research offers the Cancer Therapy Program in Pediatrics. This program focuses on new cancer drug development and investigates the use of promising treatments for patients with recurrent or relapsed childhood cancers such as liver tumors. The Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research is a division within the Department of Pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Locations
Locations
Locations
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.