Specialties & Conditions Hepatoblastoma Program
Hepatoblastoma Program
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Lurie Children’s treats more children with cancer and blood disorders than any other hospital in Illinois. World-class experts from the center are part of our Hepatoblastoma Program, caring and treating children with this rare cancer originating in the liver.
As our patient, your child is cared for by a team including clinicians, surgeons, scientists, dietitians, and advanced practice nurses. Every team member is uniquely trained and dedicated to treating children and their families who are affected by hepatoblastoma. Our Family Services staff can help you navigate your healthcare experience at Lurie Children’s.
The Lurie Children’s Difference
Our multidisciplinary team is committed to caring for each patient’s physical, emotional and social needs in a kid-friendly environment. This team approach makes it easier for you to see every specialist your child needs under one roof and often in the same visit. To meet all of your child’s needs, physicians in our program have access to specialists from 70 medical and surgical specialties at Lurie Children’s. Our physicians also work closely with pediatric radiation oncologists and other specialists at the nearby Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
What to Expect
During your first visit, a physician will perform a physical examination and review your child’s complete medical history. Your team may recommend diagnostic procedures such as biopsy, blood tests, computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan),magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray, ultrasound, bone scans, and/or an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test.
Your hepatoblastoma team will work with you and your child to determine the best treatment plan that meets your needs. Treatment is generally aimed at removing as much of the tumor as possible with surgery, while maintaining adequate liver function. Liver tissue can be regenerated when removed. Additional treatment methods can include chemotherapy, antibiotics, and in rare cases, liver transplant. Important elements of our comprehensive program are supportive care to manage side effects and continuous follow-up care to monitor response to treatment, detect recurrent disease and manage late effects of treatment. As with any cancer, prognosis and long-term survival can vary greatly from child to child. Prompt medical attention and aggressive therapy are important for the best prognosis.
Appointments
If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®) or visit our Appointments page for more information.
