The association of hepatocellular carcinoma in childhood with hepatitis B virus infection.
Eleven cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in childhood were investigated by immunohistochemistry for association with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Seven of 11 cases (64%) demonstrated positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG), whereas all 11 were negative for hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAG). Cirrhosis was absent in all cases, and other causes for HCC in childhood were not found. All children with HBV-associated HCC died within 6 months of diagnosis. The median survival time of these children was 2 months. Only one child with HCC of trabecular subtype without HBV association is still living after 18 months. However, this child has metastases and a local recurrence. Three other children with HCC of fibrolamellar subtype are free of disease after 2, 5, and 6 years, respectively. The high number of cases of HBV-associated HCC shows the important role of HBV infection as an etiologic factor for the development of childhood HCC in middle Europe.
Leuschner
I
I
Department of Pediatric Pathology, University of Kiel, West Germany.
Harms
D
D
Schmidt
D
D
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens