Liver Tumors in Children

Liver tumors in children present a unique challenge, encompassing a spectrum of benign and malignant neoplasms with diverse clinical presentations and management strategies. Hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma constitute most malignant liver tumors in children, while rare entities such as infantile hemangioendothelioma and mesenchymal hamartoma pose diagnostic and therapeutic quandaries. This chapter provides a concise overview of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic modalities, and treatment approaches for liver tumors in children, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving pediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists in optimizing outcomes for these patients. Recent advances in understanding tumor biology and therapeutic innovations, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and liver transplantation, have significantly improved survival rates, yet challenges persist in the management of advanced or recurrent disease. Further research efforts are warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and to develop targeted therapies tailored to the unique biological characteristics of pediatric liver tumors.