[Successful treatment of second hepatoblastoma relapse--case report].
BACKGROUND
The prognosis of hepatoblastoma has changed since effective adjuvant chemotherapy had been introduced in 1980's. There is a general agreement that complete resection is the cornerstone of treatment for children with hepapatoblastoma and the only way for eventual cure.


METHODS
We describe a boy with relapsed hepatoblastoma presenting with elevated -fetoprotein (AFP) and no visible tumor by ultrasound and computed tomography (CT). The relapse was treated with chemotherapy. Second relapse occurred shortly after therapy was completed, but this time we waited for tumor mass to appear. Combined surgery and chemotherapy resulted in remission status with 48 months of follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatoblastoma relapse without evidence of tumor is not unusual but its treatment remains controversial. Radiological investigations should be repeated until site of relapse is identified. Based on our experience it seems of no benefit to treat isolated elevation of AFP.
Univerzitetska decja klinika, Odeljenje hematoonklogije, Beograd.
N
N
Krstovski
N
N
Radlović
D
D
Janić
L
L
Dokmanović
Z
Z
Smoljanić
A
A
Sretenović
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins