Paediatric surgical oncology. 2 —Primary liver tumours in children

An overview is presented of current management strategies in primary hepatic tumours in children. Recent advances include research in the genetic and molecular properties, especially of hepatoblastoma, the application of pre-operative chemotherapy, and the development of pre-surgical staging. Problem areas include management of relapse, chemotherapeutic drug resistance and multifocality. Hepatocellular carcinoma continues to have a much worse outcome than hepatoblastoma.