We treat these cancers at the Nemours Liver Tumor Program:

• hepatoblastoma (HB) — the most common type of pediatric liver cancer
• hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) — a liver tumor that often happens in children with other liver disease
• rhabdoid tumor of the liver — a rare, aggressive tumor most often found in babies
• undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) — a rare liver tumor that most often affects children 6-10 years old

We also treat liver tumors that are not cancerous (they’re “benign”).

Treatment of cancerous liver tumors depends on staging. Staging considers the size and location of the tumor (or tumors), how easily it can be removed by surgery, and whether it’s spread to nearby or distant organs. We also look at a child’s age and overall heath to help us develop a treatment plan that might include these options, together or on their own:

Chemotherapy (“chemo”). This is the term for medications used to kill cancer cells and stop their growth.

Surgery. Pediatric liver tumors need to be removed to be cured. The liver is a unique organ in the body. Even if surgeons take out a large portion of the liver, the remaining part can regenerate (regrow). The liver is the only organ that can grow back like this.

Liver transplant. This is a surgical procedure that removes the entire liver and requires replacement with another liver from either a living related donor or from a deceased organ donor. A child may need a liver transplant if the tumor can’t be removed due to its size or location without leaving enough of the liver behind to function.

Over the past 30 years, children with liver cancer have had excellent cure rates thanks to liver transplants. In fact, most kids who have liver transplants go on to live active, healthy lives. However, following a liver transplant they will need to take medicine to help prevent problems, and get regular checkups to make sure the liver is working correctly. Doctors and researchers are looking for ways to decrease the number of children who need a liver transplant.

Advanced interventional radiology (IR) procedures performed by our interventional radiologist (a doctor who specializes in image-guided therapy). Techniques are minimally invasive, which means we use tiny incisions. And that means shorter recovery times and less pain for kids. Our IR procedures include:

• transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 (or Y90), which delivers a high dose of radiation therapy directly into the tumor(s)
• transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), which delivers chemotherapy medication directly to the tumor
• bland embolization, which uses small particles to shut off the blood supply of the tumor
• tumor ablation, which kills tumors using small needles to heat or cool them

If your child has a liver tumor, our comprehensive team of pediatric experts from many specialties will create the most effective treatment plan personalized for your child’s specific needs. Here are just some of the reasons families choose us for their pediatric liver cancer care:

• large team of experts, including a clinical coordinator (a nurse who provides support, education and care coordination) and specialists in oncology (cancer care), hepatology (liver care), general surgery, liver transplantation, interventional radiology, anesthesiology, pain management, nutrition, social work and more
• expertise from a network of locations with telemedicine. This means your child can meet with our complete team of experts regardless of their physical location.
• one of the largest pediatric hematology/oncology programs in the country (when combining our patient numbers from all of our locations)
• one of only two pediatric National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Programs (NCORP) in the nation dedicated exclusively to children. Because our care and research go hand-in-hand, your child gets exceptional care combined with the newest evidenced-based treatments and techniques.
• one of the largest pediatric interventional radiology programs in the United States (with teams in the Delaware Valley and Florida)
• one of the nation’s top programs performing advanced liver procedures in children
• leader in surgical results and overall quality of surgical care. Nemours is involved in a nationwide effort to improve surgical care for kids.
• physicians and surgeons recognized as “Best Doctors in America®” and “Top Doctors” by local magazines in our regions, year after year

Regional Pediatric Liver Tumor Program Highlights

Services, programs and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Sometimes the best support and peace of mind comes from families who’ve been there. Meet some of the inspiring kids we’ve been honored to treat.

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