Resection, including transplantation, for hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma: Impact on survival

Long-term survival in children with primary hepatic malignancies can not be expected without complete tumor resection. In the last ten years we have treated 21 children with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 21 children with hepatoblastoma (HEP), with tumor extirpation our surgical goal. Operative treatment included partial hepatectomy ([PH] 20), either primary (10) or delayed (following chemotherapy) (10), total hepatectomy and orthotopic liver transplantation ([OLT] 13), or upper abdominal exenteration and multiple organ transplantation (2). Two patients had both PH and subsequent total hepatectomy and OLT. Overall survival was 48% ( 20 42), with 9 patients dying of progressive disease prior to removal of their tumor. HEP patient survival was 67% ( 14 21), including 2 of 6 who underwent primary PH, 7 of 8 who had delayed PH, and 5 of 6 who underwent OLT. Survival for the children with HCC was 29% ( 6 21), including 1 of 4 after primary PH, 1 of 2 following delayed PH, 3 of 7 following OLT, and 1 of 2 after exenteration and multiple organ transplantation. Preoperative chemotherapy facilitated removal of 10 initially unresectable tumors (8 HEP, 2 HCC) at a second-look procedure. Total hepatectomy and OLT markedly improved survival in patients with disease unresectable by standard methods. Partial hepatectomy, either primary or delayed, should be attempted in all children with hepatic malignancies. Total hepatectomy and OLT appears to be a viable adjunct in the treatment of childhood malignancies, and should be used for otherwise unresectable tumors as part of a carefully planned protocol. © 1992

Aluminum toxicity in childhood

Aluminum intoxication is an iatrogenic disease caused by the use of aluminum compounds for phosphate binding and by the contamination of parenteral fluids. Although organ aluminum deposition was noted as early as 1880 and toxicity was documented in the 1960s, the inability to accurately measure serum and tissue aluminum prevented delineation of its toxic effects until the 1970s. Aluminum toxicity has now been conclusively shown to cause encephalopathy, metabolic bone disease, and microcytic anemia.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47831/1/467_2004_Article_BF00869743.pd

Critical presentation of pleuropulmonary blastoma.

We report two cases of critical presentation of a quite rare lung neoplasm of childhood. Presentation findings were at the extremes of the clinical pattern of this polymorphous neoplasm, ranging from an enormous solid mass causing airway compression and dislocation to an apparently benign cystic lesion discovered because of a tension pneumothorax. Both children were discharged from the pediatric intensive care unit and underwent appropriate surgical removal and oncological management. Congenital lung cysts, even asymptomatic, should not be underestimated and need elective surgical excision and histologic examination