Key result
Transarterial embolization stabilizes suspected pediatric HCC from cardiac cirrhosis for 4 months before fatal hepatic failure.
Why the study?
Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma is rare but its incidence is likely to increase, and therapeutic options for unresectable cases need description.
Case Report (n=1)
May stabilize suspected HCC short-term in pediatric cardiac cirrhosis; leaves open survival impact.
We describe the case of a 15-year-old boy with a history of Fontan operation and multiple intrahepatic tumors. Computed tomography showed multiple hepatic nodules with arterial enhancement. Because hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was not detected on biopsies and tumor markers were normal, progress was monitored on imaging. One hepatic tumor increased greatly in size during follow up. At 15 years of age, tumor markers rose rapidly, and he had upper abdominal swelling. Therefore, transarterial embolization (TAE) was performed for the largest tumor, suspected to be a HCC due to cardiac cirrhosis. This tumor had not increased at follow up 4 months later. The patient died from hepatic failure at the age of 17 years, and HCC was diagnosed at autopsy. Although pediatric HCC is rare, its incidence is likely to increase. TAE, with or without anticancer agents, is a therapeutic option for unresectable pediatric HCC, as it is for adult HCC.
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Yamada et al. (2015) conducted a case report in Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma with cardiac cirrhosis (n=1). Transarterial embolization (TAE) was evaluated on Tumor size progression and survival. Transarterial embolization stabilized the size of a suspected hepatocellular carcinoma in a 15-year-old boy with cardiac cirrhosis for 4 months, though he died from hepatic failure at age 17.
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