Abdominal mass in a neonate: hepatoblastoma

Abstract

A term neonate born to a 37 year old mother was admitted to our Neonatology Unit because of jaundice and abdominal distention. Gastrointestinal examination revealed abdominal distention and a palpable abdominal mass in right upper quadrant. After the initial radiological studies, it was clear that the mass originated from liver. At postnatal 15th day alfa-feto protein was found to be 60.500 ng/ml (normal level (2 week-1 month):9.452+/-12.610 ng/ml). While due to relatively high frequency in infancy and the type of contrast material enhancement in imaging studies suggested an infantile hemangioendothelioma (IHE), heterogenous nature of the lesion and high AFP levels were consistent with a hepatoblastoma (HB). Since accurate diagnosis could not be achieved by radiological studies a liver biopsy is performed. After the pathological examination of the tru-cut liver biopsy specimen, histomorphological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with the epithelial component of an embryonal type hepatoblastoma.