Patient's question:
When the child was just born, everything was fine. Then it started to turn a bit yellow, and it happened every now and then. Later, the doctor checked and said the child had hepatoblastoma. I've never heard of that. What are the symptoms of hepatoblastoma in children?Doctor's answer:
At the initial stage, symptoms are usually not obvious, without jaundice or fever. However, parents may notice abdominal distension when bathing. Sometimes, doctors may discover an abdominal mass during a physical examination. Older children may complain of abdominal pain. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells sometimes produce gonadotropins, which may lead to early puberty in children. Some children may have hyperpigmentation of the skin. Some children may experience unconscious abdominal pain. The course of the disease is faster than that of common malignant tumors. It may lead to decreased appetite, fatigue, and gradual weight loss. In advanced stages, symptoms may include fever, secondary anemia, ascites, and lower limb edema.