What Is Childhood Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
Hepatocellular carcinoma, also called liver carcinoma, is a rare childhood liver cancer. It is an aggressive liver tumor that typically affects older children and adolescents.
While the specific cause of hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown, there are liver conditions that put children at a higher risk, including:
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Biliary atresia
- Chronic infection
- Glycogen storage disease
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Tyrosinemia
Symptoms of hepatocellular carcinoma may include:
- A large abdominal mass or a swollen abdomen
- Pain on the right side that may extend to the back and shoulder
- Back pain from compression of the tumor
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Itching skin
- Anemia
Childhood Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment Team
Pediatric cancer experts at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Liver Tumor Center care for children with all types of hepatocellular carcinoma. They bring together their deep expertise and experience to offer children the most effective treatments possible. Beyond our medical experts, your child will be in the hands of a compassionate team of support staff, including child-life specialists.
Find out more about childhood liver tumor care and treatment at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Liver Tumor Center.