Liver tumors in children are rare, but their complexity can make them challenging to treat. At MSK Kids, our pediatric liver tumor specialists have extensive experience performing liver tumor surgery and customizing chemotherapy treatments when needed. We also have expertise in caring for children whose tumors come back after treatment and for those with very rare liver tumors. Our goal is to get rid of the cancer and reduce any long-term side effects so that your child has the best quality of life possible.
This information is about liver cancer in children. Read more about liver cancer in adults.
Leadership in Pediatric Liver Tumor Care
Our pediatric liver surgeons and pediatric oncologists see young people with all types of liver tumors. These range from the most common — hepatoblastoma in children and hepatocellular carcinoma in young adults — to the rarest, such as fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver. Our team analyzes the molecular profile of every liver tumor we see in order to determine what’s driving the tumor’s growth. We use that information to customize treatment and assess each child’s potential outcome.
Customizing Your Child’s Treatment
We bring together all of the specialists your child needs, which may include surgeons, pediatric oncologists, gastroenterologists, and clinical geneticists, to work closely as a team. You will usually meet with all of your child’s doctors on the day of your first appointment. Most liver tumors in children can be removed during surgery; many also require chemotherapy.
Advancing the Field through Liver Tumor Research
MSK Kids is home to one of the strongest pediatric liver tumor research programs in the country. Our scientists conduct research to learn more about the makeup of liver tumors, which helps them make discoveries that can lead to new treatments. Your child also has access to clinical trials, which evaluate innovative treatments for children with pediatric liver tumors. Right now, for example, we are studying new treatments for relapsed hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. We will let you know if your child is eligible for one of these studies.