Hepatoblastoma : a case report

Abstract

A case report of an infant aged 8 months who was admitted to St. Luke`s Hospital Malta with massive enlargement of the liver and abdominal distention is presented. M.C. was the second child of healthy unrelated parents. He was a full term normal, delivery following an uneventful pregnancy; the birth weight was 3.8 Kg. There was no difficulty in the onset of respiration. His subsequent development was apparently normal. He was first seen at eight months of age with a three week history of persistent crying. The liver was markedly enlarged, the lower border extending below the umbilicus; the lower edge was hard and irregular. This case presented with the typical clinical and histological picture of the hepatoblastoma. These tumours are usually highly malignant and metastasize rapidly to the liver, lungs and bones.