Cancer and Blood Diseases

Liver Cancer

Childhood liver cancer, also called hepatoma, is a rare disease. The liver is one of the largest organs in the body, occupying the upper right side of the abdomen and protected by the rib cage. It has many functions, including changing food into energy and filtering and storing blood.

There are two types of cancer that start in the liver — hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular cancer — which are grouped by how the cancer cells look under a microscope.

• Hepatoblastoma is more common in children under age 3 and may be caused by an abnormal gene. Children of families whose relatives carry a gene related to a certain kind of colon cancer may be more likely to develop hepatoblastoma.
• Hepatocellular cancer is found in children from birth to 19 years of age. Children infected with hepatitis B or C, which are viral infections of the liver, are more likely than other children to get hepatocellular cancer. Immunization to prevent hepatitis B may decrease the chance of developing hepatocellular cancer.

For more information about treating childhood liver cancer or to make an appointment, please call:
Children's Cancer and Blood Disease Program (415) 476-3831

For assistance finding a doctor, please contact:

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007