Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare pediatric malignant tumor of the liver. Most of these tumors arise in the embryo and this is usually discernible in the first 3 years of life; thus, its occurrence in the adult population seems to be unusual. We present this case due to its rarity and its potential to mimic other primary liver tumors in adults such as HCC. To the best of our knowledge with literature review, there are only 40 cases of adult HB reported worldwide. In this paper, we report a case of a 49-year-old female, diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis B, admitted due to abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed hepatomegaly. Liver function test was unremarkable. AFP was elevated at >50,000ng/mI. Triphasic CT scan revealed a hypodense mass in the right lobe of the liver measuring approximately 11 × 11 × 13cm suggestive of HCC. Subsequently, patient underwent right hepatectomy. Pathological examination, however, demonstrated that the tumor showed a malignant neoplasm with epithelial and mesenchymal components consistent with adult HB, mixed type. Since treatment of adult HB is not yet established, studies have suggested that it is logical to follow the treatment protocol for childhood HB. Hence, this patient underwent chemotherapy with Cisplatin, Vincristine and 5-Fluorouracil. The low incidence of HB in adults presents a diagnostic challenge, requiring a high index of suspicion and a thorough evaluation. Since prognosis could be improved with early detection and treatment, it is important for clinicians not to overlook HB.
Hepatoblastoma ; Hepatomegaly